A few years back, I had a fantastic discussion with friends on what it meant to lay down our lives for others. What did Jesus mean when He said,” Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.“? (John 15:13)
Martyrdom was the first thing that came up of course. We discussed the group of Middle Eastern Christians whose horrific martyrdom on a beach was blasted across all the news agencies at that time. Militant groups threatened to behead children in front of their parents unless those parents converted to the militant’s faith. Moms and dads in our discussion wondered what they would do if they were given a choice to recant their faith or watch their children be tortured. Could they watch their child become a martyr?
We then talked about the daily laying down of our lives required of us through small acts of sacrifice. Allowing inconveniences in our day for the sake of others; stepping out of our comfort zones to speak the truth even when we face ridicule and censor in the workplace and community because of our faith. It got me thinking.
There are invitations to perform small sacrifices that God puts in front of me every day. When I am in writing mode, and an email, text, or phone call comes my way asking me for computer help or whatever, I have a choice to make. I can step out of writer’s mode long enough to help that person, I can write them a short note saying I will help as soon as I finish the task at hand, or I can ignore their request or put off my response long enough that it slips my mind completely. I’ve done all three, and I’ve done the latter way too often, much to my chagrin.
I can let someone know I’ve heard their sob story at least a dozen times before, or I can listen yet again as I silently ask the Lord why this story is so important to them. I can then respond in love and hopefully help them find a way out of their cycle of woe.
I can look a street person in the eye and smile, even if I don’t have anything to give them beyond that smile, or I can pretend I never saw them.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer died a martyr’s death as a result of attempting to stop Hitler’s evil regime. Countless daily choices to lay his life down for the sake of others as a pastor strengthened Bonhoeffer’s inner core to the point that he found the courage needed to volunteer for a mission that he knew would probably lead to his death. By dying daily, he learned how to die.
Bonhoeffer once said, “The cross is laid on every Christian… When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time – death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at His call. Jesus’ summons to the rich young man was calling him to die, because only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ. In fact, every command of Jesus is a call to die, with all our affections and lusts. But we do not want to die, and therefore Jesus Christ and his call are necessarily our death as well as our life.”
Jesus laid down His life for the sake of others from the day He first stepped into public ministry until His last breath on the cross. And so He asks the same of us.
Personal Application
There is a difference between a martyr and someone who lives with a martyr complex. A martyr complex can easily be spotted in your heart. Do you continually allow yourself to be a doormat for others because to do so is easier than lovingly confronting others ones about their laziness, entitlement attitudes, or anger issues? Most people who have a martyr complex are secretly resentful, bitter, and angry toward those they allowed to walk all over them. They secretly get a kick out of making sure that those around them know what a suffering servant they are and how people take them for granted. And yet, Jesus cautioned, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Matthew 6:3
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Is there someone you are saying yes to that you know you should be saying no to?
Are there daily sacrifices that God is calling you toward that you are actually doing, but you are doing so with a grumbling heart? Do you serve family and friends with a sigh and an eye roll? Internally or externally?
Are you a person of your word? Have you broken promises and/or not followed through on your offers to help others because of procrastination?
Do you automatically assume that someone else will pick up that piece of trash or meet that need you see right before you?
How well do you deal with interruptions?
As C.S. Lewis put it, “Die before you die. There is no chance after.”
Don’t forget. Follow me on my personal timeline on Facebook. You do not need to send me a friend request to follow me although I welcome friend requests please message me there to say you know me from the website or email list! Here is the Facebook link.
If you are coming here from Facebook, you might not be aware that you can receive these weekly devotions via email. Sometimes, Facebook doesn’t show my links to these devotionals, and so you might not see when I post something new. How to fix that? Sign up for my weekly email that not only includes a devotional but also seven quotes from prominent authors, speakers, and heroes of our faith. I do not use this mailing list for any other purpose!
Don’t forget. Follow me on my personal timeline on Facebook. You do not need to send me a friend request to follow me although I welcome friend requests please message me there to say you know me from the website or email list! Here is the Facebook link.
If you are coming here from Facebook, you might not be aware that you can receive these weekly devotions via email. Sometimes, Facebook doesn’t show my links to these devotionals and so you might not see when I post something new. How to fix that? Sign up for my weekly email that not only includes a devotional but also seven quotes from prominent authors, speakers, and heroes of our faith. I do not use this mailing list for any other purpose!
All Bible verses attributed to the ESV version unless otherwise indicated.
Until Next Week
©2018 Katherine Walden
Sign up to receive a weekly emailed devotional by Katherine by using the following form.