This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in China sometime during the late 1960's.
'The two Christian girls waited in the Chinese prison yard for the announced execution. A fellow prisoner who watched the scene from his prison cell described their faces as pale but beautiful beyond belief; infinitely sad but sweet. Humanly speaking, they were fearful. But Chiu-Chin-Hsiu and Ho-Hsiu-Tzu had decided to submit to death without renouncing their faith.
Flanked by renegade guards, the executioner came with a revolver in his hand. It was their own pastor! He had been sentenced to die with the two girls. But, as on many other occasions in Church history, the persecutors worked on him, tempting him. They promised to release him if he would shoot the girls. He accepted.
The girls whispered to each other, then bowed respectfully before their pastor. One of them said, "Before you shoot us, we wish to thank you heartily for what you have meant to us. You baptised us, you taught us the ways of eternal life, you gave us holy communion with the same hand in which you now hold the gun.
"You also taught us that Christians are sometimes weak and commit terrible sins, but they can be forgiven again. When you regret what you are about to do to us, do not despair like Judas, but repent like Peter. God bless you, and remember that our last thought was not one of indignation against your failure. Everyone passes through hours of darkness.
"May God reward you for all the good you have done to us. We die with gratitude."
They bowed again.
The pastor's heart was hardened. He shot the girls.
Afterwards he was shot by the Communists.'
Showing posts with label persecuted church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecuted church. Show all posts
Monday, September 1, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
"We Have Your Nephew"
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in the Philippines in 1992.
'"We have your nephew," said the handwritten note. "If you surrender to us, we will return the boy to his parents." Brother MT stared at the message. It was from the leaders of the New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines. People in many parts of the Philippines have been threatened and persecuted for years by this group of terrorists.
Brother MT is an evangelist in the Philippines. He travels regularly into the mountains to reach the terrorist groups. Peter, his eight-year-old nephew, frequently went with Brother MT on his evangelistic trips. He was a special help to him in children's meetings in the mountain villages.
Because of the pressure from the NPA, Brother MT was often forced into hiding. Still, as a result of his ministry, some of the NPA soldiers had given their lives to Jesus Christ and left the organization. MT had counted the cost and was prepared to give his life for the Gospel, but he was not prepared for this! He knew there was no hope that his surrender would save his nephew. He knew they would both be killed; however, he hesitated.
The boy's parents insisted that MT ignore this order and continue his evangelistic outreach. As a result, the parents gave their son for the Gospel. Peter was killed on Good Friday, April 17, 1992. He was tortured for three hours and suffered very much. His hands were tied with wire, and the terrorists struck him in the legs and head with an ax. Finally, he was beheaded.
The abductors have warned the boy's parents and MT that if they do not stop their ministry, they will return and torture them. Brother MT is continuing his dangerous work in the mountains among the terrorist groups."
Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
This story is a hard one to read. It is not one of adults, freely making their own choices regarding their lives. Rather, it is of a family who knew what it meant to love Jesus more than each other. It is of an eight year old who was strong enough to preach the Gospel to other children even though he knew the risk. It is of an eight year old who was tortured and killed by those who despise the Gospel.
This did not take place very long ago, a mere sixteen years. If Peter was alive today, he would only be a couple of years older than I am.
We link to a website called The Rebelution put out by Alex and Brett Harris. The site is devoted to encouraging young people to "do hard things" and not succumb to our culture's low expectations. Peter is the epitome of this.
This week, pray for the people willingly offering their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Pray for their families who are left behind.
'"We have your nephew," said the handwritten note. "If you surrender to us, we will return the boy to his parents." Brother MT stared at the message. It was from the leaders of the New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines. People in many parts of the Philippines have been threatened and persecuted for years by this group of terrorists.
Brother MT is an evangelist in the Philippines. He travels regularly into the mountains to reach the terrorist groups. Peter, his eight-year-old nephew, frequently went with Brother MT on his evangelistic trips. He was a special help to him in children's meetings in the mountain villages.
Because of the pressure from the NPA, Brother MT was often forced into hiding. Still, as a result of his ministry, some of the NPA soldiers had given their lives to Jesus Christ and left the organization. MT had counted the cost and was prepared to give his life for the Gospel, but he was not prepared for this! He knew there was no hope that his surrender would save his nephew. He knew they would both be killed; however, he hesitated.
The boy's parents insisted that MT ignore this order and continue his evangelistic outreach. As a result, the parents gave their son for the Gospel. Peter was killed on Good Friday, April 17, 1992. He was tortured for three hours and suffered very much. His hands were tied with wire, and the terrorists struck him in the legs and head with an ax. Finally, he was beheaded.
The abductors have warned the boy's parents and MT that if they do not stop their ministry, they will return and torture them. Brother MT is continuing his dangerous work in the mountains among the terrorist groups."
Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
This story is a hard one to read. It is not one of adults, freely making their own choices regarding their lives. Rather, it is of a family who knew what it meant to love Jesus more than each other. It is of an eight year old who was strong enough to preach the Gospel to other children even though he knew the risk. It is of an eight year old who was tortured and killed by those who despise the Gospel.
This did not take place very long ago, a mere sixteen years. If Peter was alive today, he would only be a couple of years older than I am.
We link to a website called The Rebelution put out by Alex and Brett Harris. The site is devoted to encouraging young people to "do hard things" and not succumb to our culture's low expectations. Peter is the epitome of this.
This week, pray for the people willingly offering their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Pray for their families who are left behind.
Monday, August 18, 2008
"The Highest Words"
Men of faith rise up and sing
Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak
In your brokeness complete
Shout to the North and the South
Sing to the East and the West
Jesus is saviour to all
Lord of heaven and earth
Rise up women of the truth
Stand and sing to broken hearts
Who can know the healing power
Of our awesome King of love
We've been through fire we've been
through rain
We've been refined by the power of his name
We've fallen deeper in love with you
You've burned the truth on our lips
Rise up church with broken wings
Fill this place with songs again
Of our God who reigns on high
By His grace again we'll fly
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in the U.S.S.R. in the 1970s.
'"What kind of men are these?" wondered Nikolai Khamara. "They show joy while suffering They sing in very dark hours. When they have a piece of bread, they share it with someone who has none. Morning and evening, they fold their hands and speak to someone whom no one can see. As they do, their faces shine."
For months, Khamara had watched the Christians who shared his cell in the Communist prison. Unlike the believers who were in prison for refusing to deny their faith in Jesus, Khamara was there for crimes he had committed. Arrested for robbery, he had been sentenced to prison for ten years. He described himself as "a man with no conscience."
One day, two of the Christians sat down with Khamara. He told them the sad story of his life and finished by saying, "I am a lost man."
One of the Christians asked, "Suppose somebody looses a gold ring. What is the value of that gold ring when it is lost?"
"What a foolish question!" Khamara replied. "A gold ring is a gold ring. You have lost it, but somebody else will have it."
"Then what is the value of a lost man?" the Christian asked. Answering his own question, he continued, "A lost man, even one who is a thief or an adulterer or a murderer, has the whole value of a man. He is of such value that the Son of God forsook heaven for him and died on the cross to save him."
Khamara uderstood.
The Christian said to the robber, "God loves you. You are valuable to Him. When Jesus met drunkards, robbers, prostitutes, or others who had committed great sins, He never asked them what sins they had committed. Instead, He told them 'Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.' I also tell you, Khamara, that your sins are forgiven because Jesus died for you. You only have to believe."
Khamara became a Christian.
When he finished his prison term and was set free, he joined the underground church even though it was in constant threat from the KGB. He became a faithful member of his local congregation. Some time later, the pastor of Khamara's church was arrested. The authorities beat and tortured him hoping he would tell the names of the church members and give them information that would help them stop the printing of Gospel booklets that had been circulating throught their province. He was tortured, but he told them nothing., If he had, thousands of his fellow believers would have been arrested.
After he had beated the pastor repeatedly without success, the captain of the investigation said, "We will not torture you anymore. We have another method."
They arrested Nikolai Khamara. They brought him before the pastor and told him, "If you do not tell all the secrets of your church, we will torture Khamara in front of you."
The pastor could not endure someone suffering for him. He asked Khamara, "What should I do?"
Khamara said to him, "Be faithful to Jesus and do not betray Him. I am happy to suffer for the name of Christ."
The captain said, "We will gouge out Khamara's eyes." The torturers picked up a knife and started toward Khamara. The pastor could not bear it. He cried to Khamara, "How can I look at this! You will be blind!"
Khamara repliedd, "When my eyes are taken away from me, I will see more beauty than I see with these eyes. I will see the Savior. You remain faithful to Christ to the end."
When he had finished, seeing that the astor had not yet given them the information they wanted, the captain turned to the pastor again and said, "If you do not betray your church, we will cut out Khamara's tongue."
I despair, the pastor cried out, "What should I do?"
Khamara's last words were, "Praise the Lord Jesus Christ. I have said the highest words that can be said. Now, if you wish, you can cut out my tongue."
Khamara died a martyr's death.'
Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak
In your brokeness complete
Shout to the North and the South
Sing to the East and the West
Jesus is saviour to all
Lord of heaven and earth
Rise up women of the truth
Stand and sing to broken hearts
Who can know the healing power
Of our awesome King of love
We've been through fire we've been
through rain
We've been refined by the power of his name
We've fallen deeper in love with you
You've burned the truth on our lips
Rise up church with broken wings
Fill this place with songs again
Of our God who reigns on high
By His grace again we'll fly
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in the U.S.S.R. in the 1970s.
'"What kind of men are these?" wondered Nikolai Khamara. "They show joy while suffering They sing in very dark hours. When they have a piece of bread, they share it with someone who has none. Morning and evening, they fold their hands and speak to someone whom no one can see. As they do, their faces shine."
For months, Khamara had watched the Christians who shared his cell in the Communist prison. Unlike the believers who were in prison for refusing to deny their faith in Jesus, Khamara was there for crimes he had committed. Arrested for robbery, he had been sentenced to prison for ten years. He described himself as "a man with no conscience."
One day, two of the Christians sat down with Khamara. He told them the sad story of his life and finished by saying, "I am a lost man."
One of the Christians asked, "Suppose somebody looses a gold ring. What is the value of that gold ring when it is lost?"
"What a foolish question!" Khamara replied. "A gold ring is a gold ring. You have lost it, but somebody else will have it."
"Then what is the value of a lost man?" the Christian asked. Answering his own question, he continued, "A lost man, even one who is a thief or an adulterer or a murderer, has the whole value of a man. He is of such value that the Son of God forsook heaven for him and died on the cross to save him."
Khamara uderstood.
The Christian said to the robber, "God loves you. You are valuable to Him. When Jesus met drunkards, robbers, prostitutes, or others who had committed great sins, He never asked them what sins they had committed. Instead, He told them 'Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.' I also tell you, Khamara, that your sins are forgiven because Jesus died for you. You only have to believe."
Khamara became a Christian.
When he finished his prison term and was set free, he joined the underground church even though it was in constant threat from the KGB. He became a faithful member of his local congregation. Some time later, the pastor of Khamara's church was arrested. The authorities beat and tortured him hoping he would tell the names of the church members and give them information that would help them stop the printing of Gospel booklets that had been circulating throught their province. He was tortured, but he told them nothing., If he had, thousands of his fellow believers would have been arrested.
After he had beated the pastor repeatedly without success, the captain of the investigation said, "We will not torture you anymore. We have another method."
They arrested Nikolai Khamara. They brought him before the pastor and told him, "If you do not tell all the secrets of your church, we will torture Khamara in front of you."
The pastor could not endure someone suffering for him. He asked Khamara, "What should I do?"
Khamara said to him, "Be faithful to Jesus and do not betray Him. I am happy to suffer for the name of Christ."
The captain said, "We will gouge out Khamara's eyes." The torturers picked up a knife and started toward Khamara. The pastor could not bear it. He cried to Khamara, "How can I look at this! You will be blind!"
Khamara repliedd, "When my eyes are taken away from me, I will see more beauty than I see with these eyes. I will see the Savior. You remain faithful to Christ to the end."
When he had finished, seeing that the astor had not yet given them the information they wanted, the captain turned to the pastor again and said, "If you do not betray your church, we will cut out Khamara's tongue."
I despair, the pastor cried out, "What should I do?"
Khamara's last words were, "Praise the Lord Jesus Christ. I have said the highest words that can be said. Now, if you wish, you can cut out my tongue."
Khamara died a martyr's death.'
Monday, August 11, 2008
"He Will Enable Me to Bear It"
This story is a little longer than the rest, so I am going to keep my comments (mostly!) to myself. I have so much admiration for this young woman. I hope her story will embolden you in your public Christian walk and will move you to pray for the people who have to make these same decisions every day.
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in England, 1557.
"Rose Allen jumped from her bed and peeked out the window. There in front of her door stood a sheriff, two police officers, and a crowd of people carrying torches. They were talking with her father on the doorstep. She looked at the clock on the mantle. It was two in the morning.
Rose's mother, Alice Munt, had also been awakened by the loud pounding on the door. 'What is it, Rose?' she whispered.
'They've come to get us, Mother,' Rose whispered back. Rose could hear her father, William, letting the men in below. Then she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Friends had warned them of the danger of not attending the official church, but their sense of duty to the truth was stronger than their fears. They continued to worship in secret places with a few men and women like faith. Now the authorities had come to take them away.
Alice, who was not in good health, was so shaken up by the sudden alarm that she felt faint. She asked the sheriff if her daughter could get her some water before they all left for prison.
The sheriff allowed Rose to go to the well. She took a candle and a pitcher to the well and returned with the water. As she came back toward the house, the sheriff met her at the door and said, 'Persuade your father and mother to act more like good Christians and less like heretics. Then they'll soon be set free.'
'Sir,' Rose replied,'They have a better instructor than I, for the Holy Spirit teaches them - one who, I hope, will not allow them to err.'
'Well! It's time to lock up such heretics as you!' the sheriff replied. 'I reckon you will burn with the rest, for company's sake.'
'No sir,' Rose replied, 'not for company's sake, but for my Christ's sake, if I have to. And I trust in His mercies, that if He calls me to do it, He will enable me to bear it.'
One of the sheriff's men shouted, 'Prove her now, and you shall see what she will do by and by.'
With that, the sheriff took the candle from the girl and holding her wrist in a firm grip, put the lighted candle under her hand, burning it across the back for so long that the skin peeled off, the tendons cracked, and the bones showed.
'Cry, wench! Let me hear you cry!' he yelled.
Rose refused to utter a sound.
When he finally pushed her away, Rose said, 'Sir, have you done what you will do?'
'Yes, and if you don't like it, then mend it.'
'Mend it!' said Rose, 'No, the Lord will mend you, and give you repentance, if it be His will. And now, if you think it good, begin at the feet, and burn to the head also. For he that sent you to this work shall pay you your wages one day, I promise you.'
Having said this, Rose carried the water into the house to her mother.
The same morning, the sheriff and his men also arrested six others. After they had been in prison a few days, they were all brought to trial. Each one answered with firmness and refused to change their belief in any way. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake.
When they were brought out, the martyr's knelt, said their prayers, and were tied to the stakes. When the fire rose all around them, they clapped their hands for joy in the fire.
The people who looked on - thousands of them - cried out, 'Lord strengthen you! The Lord comfort you! The Lord pour out His mercies upon you!' and other words of comfort.
The martyrs gave themselves to the flames with such courage that all who saw them were amazed.
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in England, 1557.
"Rose Allen jumped from her bed and peeked out the window. There in front of her door stood a sheriff, two police officers, and a crowd of people carrying torches. They were talking with her father on the doorstep. She looked at the clock on the mantle. It was two in the morning.
Rose's mother, Alice Munt, had also been awakened by the loud pounding on the door. 'What is it, Rose?' she whispered.
'They've come to get us, Mother,' Rose whispered back. Rose could hear her father, William, letting the men in below. Then she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Friends had warned them of the danger of not attending the official church, but their sense of duty to the truth was stronger than their fears. They continued to worship in secret places with a few men and women like faith. Now the authorities had come to take them away.
Alice, who was not in good health, was so shaken up by the sudden alarm that she felt faint. She asked the sheriff if her daughter could get her some water before they all left for prison.
The sheriff allowed Rose to go to the well. She took a candle and a pitcher to the well and returned with the water. As she came back toward the house, the sheriff met her at the door and said, 'Persuade your father and mother to act more like good Christians and less like heretics. Then they'll soon be set free.'
'Sir,' Rose replied,'They have a better instructor than I, for the Holy Spirit teaches them - one who, I hope, will not allow them to err.'
'Well! It's time to lock up such heretics as you!' the sheriff replied. 'I reckon you will burn with the rest, for company's sake.'
'No sir,' Rose replied, 'not for company's sake, but for my Christ's sake, if I have to. And I trust in His mercies, that if He calls me to do it, He will enable me to bear it.'
One of the sheriff's men shouted, 'Prove her now, and you shall see what she will do by and by.'
With that, the sheriff took the candle from the girl and holding her wrist in a firm grip, put the lighted candle under her hand, burning it across the back for so long that the skin peeled off, the tendons cracked, and the bones showed.
'Cry, wench! Let me hear you cry!' he yelled.
Rose refused to utter a sound.
When he finally pushed her away, Rose said, 'Sir, have you done what you will do?'
'Yes, and if you don't like it, then mend it.'
'Mend it!' said Rose, 'No, the Lord will mend you, and give you repentance, if it be His will. And now, if you think it good, begin at the feet, and burn to the head also. For he that sent you to this work shall pay you your wages one day, I promise you.'
Having said this, Rose carried the water into the house to her mother.
The same morning, the sheriff and his men also arrested six others. After they had been in prison a few days, they were all brought to trial. Each one answered with firmness and refused to change their belief in any way. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake.
When they were brought out, the martyr's knelt, said their prayers, and were tied to the stakes. When the fire rose all around them, they clapped their hands for joy in the fire.
The people who looked on - thousands of them - cried out, 'Lord strengthen you! The Lord comfort you! The Lord pour out His mercies upon you!' and other words of comfort.
The martyrs gave themselves to the flames with such courage that all who saw them were amazed.
"Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
(My heart and flesh cry out)
My heart and flesh cry out
For You, the Living God
Your Spirit's water for my soul
I've tasted, and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You
To You"
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
(My heart and flesh cry out)
My heart and flesh cry out
For You, the Living God
Your Spirit's water for my soul
I've tasted, and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You
To You"
Monday, August 4, 2008
Walled In
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It took place in the 1500s.
"'I found one!' The Inquisitor held up the forbidden book as he called to his assistant. 'Bring in the mayor and his family. Someone is studying the Bible in this house!'
In the 16th century, Philip 2 sent the Duke of Alba to Flanders to stamp out the Protestants who insisted on reading the Scriptures in their own language. Anyone found studying the Bible was hanged, drowned, torn into pieces, or burned alive at the stake.
The Inquisitors had found the Bible while inspecting the house of the Mayor of Burgge. One by one, family members were questioned but everyone claimed they knew nothing about how the Bible got to their house.
Finally the officials asked the young maid-servant, Wrunken, who boldly declared, 'I am reading it!'
The mayor, knowing the penalty for studying the Bible, tried to defend her saying, 'Oh no, she only owns it. She doesn't ever read from it.'
But Wrunken chose not to be defended by a lie. 'This book is mine. I am reading from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!'
She was sentenced to die by suffocation. A place would be hollowed in the city wall, she would be tied in it, and the opening would be bricked over.
On the day of her execution, as she stood by the wall, an official tried to get her to change her mind, saying 'So young and beautiful - and yet to die.'
Wrunken replied, 'My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him.'
As the bricks were laid higher and higher, she was warned again. 'You will suffocate and die in here!'
'I will be with Jesus,' she answered.
Finally, the wall was finished, except for the one brick that would cover her face. For the last time, the official tried to persuade her. 'Repent - just say the word and you will go free.'
But Wrunken refused saying, 'O Lord, forgive my murderers.'
The brick was put in place. Many years later, her bones were removed from the wall and buried in the cemetery of Brugge."
This story moves me on so many levels! Wrunken had so many opportunities to escape. She had only to deny that the Bible was hers at the beginning when questioned. The mayor and his family were clearly ready to back her on it. And after she claimed ownership, the mayor still tried to rescue her. But she refused to be rescued. "My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him."
Most of us will never face the choice of speaking for Christ and dying or denying Christ and living. I am reminded of the verse in 1st Corinthians, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." In the past, I have often looked at this verse as a display of God's faithfulness and generosity. But recently I have come to see a different aspect of it.
If God promises not to give us trials that we cannot handle, then why is it that most of us only suffer relatively minimalistic trials? Wrunken thought that it was not only necessary, but an honor to die for her Savior. However, many of us (myself included) often do not consider obedience a necessity - let alone an honor.
Let us this week consider the example of Wrunken. Let us examine our own lives to see where we can better show our devotion to our Savior. Let us repeat, "My Savior died for me. I will submit to my husband to honor Him. My Savior died for me. I will speak gently to honor Him. My Savior died for me. I will not gossip to honor him."
"'I found one!' The Inquisitor held up the forbidden book as he called to his assistant. 'Bring in the mayor and his family. Someone is studying the Bible in this house!'
In the 16th century, Philip 2 sent the Duke of Alba to Flanders to stamp out the Protestants who insisted on reading the Scriptures in their own language. Anyone found studying the Bible was hanged, drowned, torn into pieces, or burned alive at the stake.
The Inquisitors had found the Bible while inspecting the house of the Mayor of Burgge. One by one, family members were questioned but everyone claimed they knew nothing about how the Bible got to their house.
Finally the officials asked the young maid-servant, Wrunken, who boldly declared, 'I am reading it!'
The mayor, knowing the penalty for studying the Bible, tried to defend her saying, 'Oh no, she only owns it. She doesn't ever read from it.'
But Wrunken chose not to be defended by a lie. 'This book is mine. I am reading from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!'
She was sentenced to die by suffocation. A place would be hollowed in the city wall, she would be tied in it, and the opening would be bricked over.
On the day of her execution, as she stood by the wall, an official tried to get her to change her mind, saying 'So young and beautiful - and yet to die.'
Wrunken replied, 'My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him.'
As the bricks were laid higher and higher, she was warned again. 'You will suffocate and die in here!'
'I will be with Jesus,' she answered.
Finally, the wall was finished, except for the one brick that would cover her face. For the last time, the official tried to persuade her. 'Repent - just say the word and you will go free.'
But Wrunken refused saying, 'O Lord, forgive my murderers.'
The brick was put in place. Many years later, her bones were removed from the wall and buried in the cemetery of Brugge."
This story moves me on so many levels! Wrunken had so many opportunities to escape. She had only to deny that the Bible was hers at the beginning when questioned. The mayor and his family were clearly ready to back her on it. And after she claimed ownership, the mayor still tried to rescue her. But she refused to be rescued. "My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him."
Most of us will never face the choice of speaking for Christ and dying or denying Christ and living. I am reminded of the verse in 1st Corinthians, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." In the past, I have often looked at this verse as a display of God's faithfulness and generosity. But recently I have come to see a different aspect of it.
If God promises not to give us trials that we cannot handle, then why is it that most of us only suffer relatively minimalistic trials? Wrunken thought that it was not only necessary, but an honor to die for her Savior. However, many of us (myself included) often do not consider obedience a necessity - let alone an honor.
Let us this week consider the example of Wrunken. Let us examine our own lives to see where we can better show our devotion to our Savior. Let us repeat, "My Savior died for me. I will submit to my husband to honor Him. My Savior died for me. I will speak gently to honor Him. My Savior died for me. I will not gossip to honor him."
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Thundering Legion
This story was taken from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. It is found on pages 96-97. It took place in 320AD
"The Roman governor stood resolutely before the forty roman soldiers of the Thundering Legion. 'I command you t make an offering to the Roman gods. If you will not, you will be stripped of your military status.'
The forty soldiers all believed firmly in the Lord Jesus. They knew they must not deny Him or sacrifice to the Roman idols, no matter what the governor would do to them.
Camdidus spoke for the legion, 'Nothing is dearere or of greater honor to us than Christ our God.'
The governor then tried other tactics to get them to deny their faith. First heoffered them money and imperial honors. Then he threatened them with torments and torture with the rack and with fire.
Camididus replied, 'You offer us money that remains left behind and glory that fades away. Youseek to make us friends of the Emperor, but alienate us from the true King. We desire one gift, the crown of righteousness. We are anxious for the glory, the glory of the heavenly kingdom. We love honors, those of heaven.
You threaten fearful torments and call our godliness a crime, but you will not find us fainthearted or attached to this life or easily stricken with terror. For the love of God, we are prepared to endure any kind of torture.'
The governor was enraged. Now he wanted them to die a slow, painful death. they were stripped naked and herded to the middle of a frozen lake. He set soldiers to guard them to prevent any from coming to shore and escaping.
The forty encouraged each other as though they were going to battle. 'How many of our companions in arms fell on the battle front, showing themselves loyal to an earthly king? Is it possible for us to fail to sacrifice our lives in faithfulness to the true King? Let usnot turn aside, O warriors, let us not turn our backs in flight from the devil.' They spent the night couragiously bearing their pain and rejoicing in the hope of soon being with the Lord.
To increase the torment of he Christians, baths of hot water were ut around the lake. With these the governor hoped to weaken the firm resolve of the freezing men. He told them, 'You may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith.' In the end, one of them did weaken, came off the ice, and got into a warm bath.
When one of the guards on the shore saw him desert, He himself took the lace of the traitor. Surprising everyone with the suddenness of his conversion, he threw off his clothes, and ran to join the naked ones on the ice, crying out loudly, 'I am a Christian!'
Some call it 'the mystery of martyrdom.' Why would seeing 39 believers who were willing to die for their faith inspire a highly-trained soldier, in the prime of his life, to join them in death? It seems so foreign to our American way of thinking. It is amazing to see how God works through these tragic situations to call more people to Himself."
This is the power of our God. The gospel is worth suffering and dying for. I love this story. I have an extremely vivid imagination and can picture 40 men, slowly freezing to death, encouraging eachother with Scripture, songs, calls to faithfulness, and reminders of what they are standing for. I can picture their despair as one of them finally gives in and deserts his faith. I can hear them calling to their brother, entreating him to come back, repent, and be saved. I can feel the chords around the guard's heart as God breaks them to reveal Himself. And I can feel joy with him as he chooses to sacrifice his own life in order to gain it.
The postscript at the end of the story is true. The guard choosing to join the dying men is very foreign to our minds. Why did he need to do that? No one knew that he had just been converted. He could easily have saved his life by simply keeping quiet. No one would ever have known. But he didn't. He truly believed that what he was witnessing was the truth, the ultimate truth, and he truly believed that Jesus was worth dying for. So instead of rationalizing how much better it would be for him to live, he chose to make the ultimate sacrifice and gave up his life.
Oh that we would take these examples to heart, that we would live as though the gospel is the dearest thing to us and that Jesus is worth living and dying for.
"The Roman governor stood resolutely before the forty roman soldiers of the Thundering Legion. 'I command you t make an offering to the Roman gods. If you will not, you will be stripped of your military status.'
The forty soldiers all believed firmly in the Lord Jesus. They knew they must not deny Him or sacrifice to the Roman idols, no matter what the governor would do to them.
Camdidus spoke for the legion, 'Nothing is dearere or of greater honor to us than Christ our God.'
The governor then tried other tactics to get them to deny their faith. First heoffered them money and imperial honors. Then he threatened them with torments and torture with the rack and with fire.
Camididus replied, 'You offer us money that remains left behind and glory that fades away. Youseek to make us friends of the Emperor, but alienate us from the true King. We desire one gift, the crown of righteousness. We are anxious for the glory, the glory of the heavenly kingdom. We love honors, those of heaven.
You threaten fearful torments and call our godliness a crime, but you will not find us fainthearted or attached to this life or easily stricken with terror. For the love of God, we are prepared to endure any kind of torture.'
The governor was enraged. Now he wanted them to die a slow, painful death. they were stripped naked and herded to the middle of a frozen lake. He set soldiers to guard them to prevent any from coming to shore and escaping.
The forty encouraged each other as though they were going to battle. 'How many of our companions in arms fell on the battle front, showing themselves loyal to an earthly king? Is it possible for us to fail to sacrifice our lives in faithfulness to the true King? Let usnot turn aside, O warriors, let us not turn our backs in flight from the devil.' They spent the night couragiously bearing their pain and rejoicing in the hope of soon being with the Lord.
To increase the torment of he Christians, baths of hot water were ut around the lake. With these the governor hoped to weaken the firm resolve of the freezing men. He told them, 'You may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith.' In the end, one of them did weaken, came off the ice, and got into a warm bath.
When one of the guards on the shore saw him desert, He himself took the lace of the traitor. Surprising everyone with the suddenness of his conversion, he threw off his clothes, and ran to join the naked ones on the ice, crying out loudly, 'I am a Christian!'
Some call it 'the mystery of martyrdom.' Why would seeing 39 believers who were willing to die for their faith inspire a highly-trained soldier, in the prime of his life, to join them in death? It seems so foreign to our American way of thinking. It is amazing to see how God works through these tragic situations to call more people to Himself."
This is the power of our God. The gospel is worth suffering and dying for. I love this story. I have an extremely vivid imagination and can picture 40 men, slowly freezing to death, encouraging eachother with Scripture, songs, calls to faithfulness, and reminders of what they are standing for. I can picture their despair as one of them finally gives in and deserts his faith. I can hear them calling to their brother, entreating him to come back, repent, and be saved. I can feel the chords around the guard's heart as God breaks them to reveal Himself. And I can feel joy with him as he chooses to sacrifice his own life in order to gain it.
The postscript at the end of the story is true. The guard choosing to join the dying men is very foreign to our minds. Why did he need to do that? No one knew that he had just been converted. He could easily have saved his life by simply keeping quiet. No one would ever have known. But he didn't. He truly believed that what he was witnessing was the truth, the ultimate truth, and he truly believed that Jesus was worth dying for. So instead of rationalizing how much better it would be for him to live, he chose to make the ultimate sacrifice and gave up his life.
Oh that we would take these examples to heart, that we would live as though the gospel is the dearest thing to us and that Jesus is worth living and dying for.
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