Acts 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  In the early church there were men and women who would rather die than to succumb to the whims of men.  Some actually did die, think of Stephen, while others were beaten and tortured for their unwavering faith.   Jesus told his disciples that in order to follow him they must deny themselves,  and take up their cross.  Notice here, it was not time to wear a crown but rather it was time to take up their cross.  It is the cross that leads to the crown.  In America, we are not yet in danger for sharing our faith.  Yet there are certain parts of the world where if caught witnessing, or possessing a Bible you could be killed.  Jesus paid a tremendous price for our liberty.   Do we really desire to obey God? Peter definitely understood the cost that accompanied obedience.
In 1859 Francis Havergal wrote this verse in song…
I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightst ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?
After all our Lord has done for you and me, how could we refuse to obey Him?  After all, obedience is declared to be better than sacrifice.  Amen.  Pastor