John 15:18-25
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
On
January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot and four other missionaries, were killed by members
of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. They had landed their plane to make friendly contact
with the tribe.
On
April 20, 1999, Rachel Scott was the first student to be shot and killed in the
Columbine High School massacre. One of the shooters asked
her if she still believed in God. When Rachel answered him that she did, he
killed her.
Although
very different circumstances, these six people died because of their faith in
Christ. There have been many other Christian martyrs during the past two
thousand years. In fact, according to an April 14, 2017 Fox News report, as many
as 90,000 Christians each year are martyred.
Jesus
spoke the following words to his disciples as he prepared them for what was to
come. He seems to be saying, get ready to be martyred for following me.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it
hated you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant
is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also
persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ESV
Jesus
spoke these words to his disciples at a specific moment in time and in history.
What do they mean to us today? Should we expect to be martyred? And if we’re
not, does that mean we’re not following Christ? I don’t believe so.
For
sure, Rachel Scott did not anticipate that on that day she would lose her life
because she said that she believed in God. She was being obedient to Christ. That
is what we are called to do regardless of whether it means going to the jungles
of Ecuador, the hallways of your high school or the office at your job.
The
good news is that regardless of where God is calling you to serve Him, He
promises that you will not be alone; that you will not struggle alone. In John
14, Jesus made this promise to his followers.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be
with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. NIV
His
promise is still true today.
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