We Christians have the same deficiency of gratitude toward those who gave their lives so that we we could know the gospel. Christianity is unique in that God calls us to fight for our faith by dying. I know there are other religions that have martyrs, but we are the only ones who go on the offensive so to speak by suffering and dying from persecution.
Yesterday, we looked at a few stories of some of the more well-known martyrs as the application of Colossians 4:18. But there are still today men and women who are suffering and dying for their faith in Jesus Christ. We need to remember them... not only because they earned our remembrance, but also because that is the life and death that God has called all of us to. Read these verses again and feel their enormous weight...
Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake
Revelation 6:11
Then they were each (the martyrs) given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been
As I was thinking on these verses this morning, I began wondering how they should affect my prayers. We should pray for those who are suffering and dying for Jesus. But should we also be praying for the next generation of martyrs? That would mean praying that some of our sons and daughters would feel the call to lay down their lives for Christ. Are you praying that God will grant this grace to your children? Are you praying that God might grant this grace to you?
He has granted to us the gift of suffering for his sake. And He will not return until the full number of martyrs have come in. We should be praying for God's will to be done on earth. That means praying that some of us will willingly lay down our lives. Have you considered that you may be next? Are you willing to go?
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