Sunday, August 4, 2013

MARTYRDOM!

Time with Jesus - 05 August 2013
Hi all,
As stated in the introduction, when it comes to martyrdom, I’m a convinced coward. The very idea scares me. God alone knows how I would cope if the authorities came for me and/or my family. Those who are honest will probably side with my cowardice and pray that it never happens.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Thomas Cranmer
There was a time in ancient Rome when martyrdom was very real. The emperor, Caesar insisted on being worshipped as a god. It was seen as a good idea at the time. If the Caesar was included among the pantheon, it was felt it would add stability to the Roman Empire. 
Bishop of London
Nicholas Ridley
A common religion would unite the entire world. This meant that statues of the Caesar were erected throughout the Roman World. 
Bishop of Worcester
Hugh Latimer
To “worship” the Caesar was comparatively easy. You went to his nearest statue and all that was required of you was to take a pinch of incense to the statue. There you would say “Caesar is Lord” and burn your incense. This took place every year on what was called “The “Lordly” or “Lordy Day”.
The Oxford Martyrs
Protestants
(The “Lord’s Day” referred to in the Book of Revelation. 10 It was the Lord's Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. Rev 1:10 NLT 
The Oxford Martyrs
Roman Catholic
In this instance, John was referring to the annual “Lordly day” not an unidentified “Lord’s Day”.)
For the vast majority, this would pose no difficulty whatsoever. After all, for the pagan world, another god was immaterial. For some, it was a major problem. John refused to comply. 

As far as he was concerned, Jesus was/is Lord. John was arrested. But because he was an old man, he was sent to Patmos. For him, “Lordly Day’s” came and went and he still refused to worship Caesar. He would only say, “Jesus is Lord”.
Last Words of Hugh Latimer
For the Christians in Rome, the Lordly Day was a serious problem. They would not worship Caesar. Their religion was not approved by the state. It was an illegal religion. Now the Jewish religion had been approved. The Jews were monotheists; they worshipped God only. They also had exemption from the Roman Authorities.
The Place of Martyrdom
in Oxford
In Rome at that time, the Christian Church comprised mainly of two people. The one was Jewish converts. The others were former pagans. The former pagans had to make a choice between Jesus and Caesar. 
Those who refused to worship Caesar were persecuted, tortured and massacred by the Roman authorities in terrible, agonising ways. They were martyred. Of course they could submit to the requirements of the Lordly Day. In this way, they got off “free” with the Romans.
For former Jewish Christians, they had a way of escape. All they needed to do was return to Judaism and they were OK. Their difficulty was returning to Judaism. They would have to stand in front of the local Jewish authorities and “deny Christ”. It had to be done publicly and they had to state that Jesus was not God. He was not Lord, He was a fraud. Note that what the head of the family stated usually applied to his family.
Paul was
Beheaded
The people were also well aware of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew’s gospel. 33 But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven. Mat 10:33 NLT
So what were the former Jewish Christians to do under the circumstances? If I remained true to Christ, I would face the prospect of martyrdom for myself and all of my family. All I needed to do was return to the Synagogue. After all, it’s the same God! So what difference would it make? Furthermore my wife and family would be safe. Do you see the opportunity to compromise?
How do I know that my scenario is true? It’s very simple. The Book of Hebrews was written to “Jewish Christians” in Rome and its environs, in an effort to persuade them to be true to Jesus. “Don’t go back to the Old Covenant. We have a new and better one in and through Jesus Christ”, is what the author (not Paul) was saying. “Look at what the great men of old achieved by faith! (Hebrews 11) Don’t give up, even in the event of the martyrdom of you and your whole family!”
Jesus was Crucified for you and me.
He was "Martyred" for you and me!
Can we expect anything less?
What would I do? What would you do? It’s easy to say, “Don’t compromise!” I’ve no doubt many did. Frankly, I still don’t know what I would do. Could I put my wife and family through martyrdom? I just don’t know.
Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

The eyes that see and
love the people of this world



Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus
05 August 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
©  
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
©
INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
MARTYRDOM!
Martyrdom is a frightening prospect. I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone who looks forward to the possibility of giving their life for Jesus. We use the expression extensively in 21st Century Christianity. “I gave my life to Jesus”. It sounds very noble; exciting even. But what we mean when we use the expression has very little to do with the underlying meaning of what it states.
Perhaps the best known book on the topic of martyrdom is “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”. It’s not exactly bed-time reading. But if you would like information on martyrdom, this book is a “must” read. The details of what men and women experienced because of their belief in Jesus Christ are horrifying. Men, women and children slaughtered barbarically because they would not deny Him. When I read these stories I feel ashamed. I’m not sure if I could bear up under the strain of what took place. The real problem is that I’m a card carrying member of “Cowards Incorporated”. The fact that these atrocities were carried out in the Name of Jesus Christ makes no sense at all. It’s rather like the Auschwitz guards going home at the end of the day to play with their children, sing Christmas Carols and enjoy home life!
So what do you and I do about this possibility? The best suggestion I’ve heard came from David Pawson. He stated that if you can bear up under small issues, when the big issues come along, you will have the courage to endure. The suggestion sounds good. Sadly, I’m not in a position to recommend it.
Another comment I read was by Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch lady who was taken to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Her comment was that God gives you the ticket when you are on the train. John Huss is recorded as the Lord telling him, “Today I give you grace for living. Tomorrow I’ll give you grace for dying!”
One thing about being a martyr, He doesn’t see it as extraordinary. It’s a part of life. If I’ve given my life to Jesus and He decides that it’s in the best interests of His Kingdom that you or I be martyred, He won’t stop it. He died for me. The least He can expect from me is to be willing to die for Him! Personally, I don’t relish the prospect. I’m in good company. What happened to Him in Gethsemane and the next day in Jerusalem did not appeal to Him. Hebrews tells us, 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honour beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:2 NLT If this was His attitude, dare we think we will be better treated by the world? It’s unlikely. If that’s what they did to Him, I can’t expect better treatment.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland.
42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done."
Matthew 26:42 NLT
For years he’d been a Christian and he had served the Lord.
His life had been exciting and he was seldom bored.
He wasn’t very special; at least not in his eyes.
But from the aspect of the Lord he was of giant size!
He’d only done his duty. But it was widely known,
That since he was a Christian, this man was not his own.
Some people didn’t like it. “There is no God!” they said.
“And we would be much better off, if only He was dead”.
And so they schemed and plotted; invented evidence,
That if you really looked at, it didn’t make much sense.
But they were influential; they always got their way.
It wasn’t very difficult, provided they could pay!
They had our man arrested and he was duly tried.
“Away with him” they shouted. “We want him crucified”!
“What has he done?” folk wondered. “He isn’t steeped in sin!”
He didn’t even get the chance to speak above the din!
They dragged him to the courtyard and nailed him to a tree,
They watched him suffering and die in dreadful agony.
Our man had been a martyr. His life was snatched away.
But he had gone there willingly, when he had died that day.
The media were horrified. How could this ever be?
The people of the nation said, “What is this we see?
How could those wicked people have done this dreadful thing?
Justice is perverted here; what can we do to bring,
A true sense of the value of what the deed has done,
To smash the very fabric of trusting in God’s Son?
They raised a great furore, about the dreadful deed.
And God looked down from heaven. That death planted a seed,
Which sprang forth in abundance and turned the town around;
Away from godless practices, to where the Gospel’s found!
There was a great revival. God’s Spirit touched men’s hearts.
And that’s the point at which we know is where salvation starts.
It spread around the country - God’s Spirit everywhere!
He changed the hearts of thousands through what had happened there.
The death of just one martyr, had been the catalyst,
Of bringing thousands to the Lord. So friend, do not insist,
That living in God’s Kingdom is just a life of ease.
You could be the next martyr, if that would Jesus please
Jim Strickland
Written 5th August 2012
23 I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 ESV
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."
Matthew 26:39 NLT
2 Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet. My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother's arms.
Psalms 131:2 GW
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 ESV
22 "You don't know what you're asking for," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup of suffering I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.
Matthew 20:22 NIrV
15 So he gave them what they asked for. But he also sent a sickness that killed many of them.
Psalms 106:15 NIrV
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:6 TNIV
32 I don't want you to have anything to worry about. A single man is concerned about the Lord's matters. He wants to know how he can please the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:32 NIrV
3 LORD, you will give perfect peace to anyone who commits himself to be faithful to you. That's because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 NIrV




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