-Eighty Two- Martyrdom

Martyrdom

Today’s Reading: Daniel 6:1-28; Acts 7:54-60

Focal Verses:  

Daniel 6:22

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouth, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O King, I have done no wrong before you.”

Acts 7:60

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”  And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

A believer living a godly life will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).  Some believers just face ridicule or rejection.  There are other believers who face death.  God gives grace to all of them.
If you have never done so, I encourage you to read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.  It is an encouragement to read of the commitment of believers through the ages and how God gave them grace – grace to be rescued from death (like Daniel) or grace to endure torture and death (like Stephen).  I was amazed at how many who died, like Stephen, seemed to be lifted up out of their circumstances, and they looked forward to meeting Jesus.
Daniel and Stephen both had a confidence in and commitment to God.  They believed that the God who called them would give them the grace to obey, and in both cases, whether through miraculous rescue or a martyr’s death, people came to know God.

Are you willing to commit to be used by God, whether in life or in death?

Pray for the many believers in this world who face that choice every day.