Time with Jesus - 05 August
2013
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.
A common religion would unite
the entire world. This meant that statues of the Caesar were erected throughout
the Roman World.
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 “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
In this instance, John was referring to the annual “Lordly
day” not an unidentified “Lord’s Day”.)
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| Bishop of London Nicholas Ridley |
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| Bishop of Worcester Hugh Latimer |
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| The Oxford Martyrs Protestants |
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| The Oxford Martyrs Roman Catholic |
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”.
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”.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Paul was Beheaded |
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!”
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| Jesus was Crucified for you and me. He was "Martyred" for you and me! Can we expect anything less? |
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| 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 |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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MARTYRDOM!
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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15 So he gave them what they asked for. But he also sent a
sickness that killed many of them.
Psalms 106:15 NIrV
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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
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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
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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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