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Thanks For Nothing
Adrian Morgan
December 6, 2015
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Thanks For Nothing
The word 'martyr' is the Greek word for 'witness'...The martyrs, by confessing the faith, gave testimony to the authorities and others who heard. The death was a blood witness to Jesus Christ and faith in him."- Everett Ferguson
"Martyrdom was a grace because the martyrs' victory was not a human achievement. The martyr was privileged to share the sufferings of Christ and thereby to share in his victory over the devil." - Everett Ferguson
The stories of the martyrs of the second and third century are some of the most inspiring stories of faith in Christian History. Story after story tells the message of men and women who not only lived for Christ but also died for Christ. The martyrs lived with love and compassion and faith and died with love and compassion and faith. Too often I want to live with Christ but not die with Christ. I want the resurrected Jesus. Not the suffering Jesus.
The Bible is full of exhortations to be thankful for things that do not seem like occasions for gratitude. Jesus was thankful for enemies and persecution. Paul was thankful for the thorn in his flesh. Peter was thankful to share in the sufferings of Christ. James was thankful for trials. When I make a list of the things that I am thankful for these things do not make the list. They make the other list, the list of things that I am not thankful for.
Is it possible to live the grateful life during trials and sufferings? Is it possible to live the grateful life when we are weak and in need? Is it possible to live the grateful life during seasons of change that we do not ask for? Is it possible to witness to Jesus Christ in everything? One of the reasons the stories of the martyrs still resonates today is because they were able to live the grateful life in all seasons. May the Spirit of God be near to us and with us in all things in order that we might be a people that witness to Jesus in everything.