ODB: the others
September 20, 2009
The way to have joy in persecution is to find your joy in Jesus.
READ: Hebrews 11:32-40
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. . . . Great is your reward in heaven. —Matthew 5:11-12
When I was growing up, I often spent a week each summer with my grandparents. Many afternoons I would lie in the backyard hammock and read books I found in Grandpa’s bookcase. One was Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. It was heavy reading for a young girl, but I was absorbed by the detailed accounts of Christian martyrs, believers who were told to deny their faith in Christ but refused—thus suffering horrific deaths.
Hebrews 11 tells similar stories. After listing the familiar names of those who demonstrated immense faith in God, the chapter tells of the torture and death of people referred to simply as “others” (vv.35-36). While their names are not mentioned, verse 38 pays them this tribute: “The world was not worthy” of them. They died boldly for their faith in Jesus.
Today, we hear of persecuted Christians around the world, yet many of us have not been tested to that extent. When I examine my own faith, I wonder how I would respond to the prospect of martyrdom. I hope I would have the attitude of Paul, who said that although “chains and tribulations” awaited him (Acts 20:23), he looked forward to finishing life’s race “with joy” (v.24). Are we facing life with that kind of trusting attitude? — Cindy Hess Kasper
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Paul’s a really good testimony to everyone. I pray that more and more would be like Paul, and soon be more like Christ. Amen.
Hi Cindy…
all sort of men claim persecution for all manner of beliefs..
so.. we have to make the distinction.. what do we call suffering for righteousness.. many call themselves martyrs and they are still alive.. we must understand that persecution that is talked about in Hebrews led to death.. so all other self appointed martyrs believe..
so.. not all who suffer suffer for righteousness.. jus like not all who call on the name of the lord will enter heaven.. the road is narrow.. and few are those who find the way..
so when we suffer.. it must be that something in us is being put to death.. Paul said that we crucify the flesh daily.. we beat the body.. we deny the pleasures of this sinful body.. we fast from wrongful thinking.. and we follow the example set before us by the Disciples.. they carried nothing that would tie them down.. jus their clothes on the back.. and the shoes on their feet.. and the willingness to suffer for the gospel..
2 Cor 3:7-11… the Glory of the New Covenant..
vs 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone.. came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily upon the face of Moses, because of its glory.. tho it was fading…
vs 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious??
vs 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!!
vs 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory..
vs 11 And if what was fading away came with glory.. how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!!
Blessings