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According to William Barclay, “one of the most illuminating facts about the language of the early Church is that before the end of the first century the word for “witness” and the word for “martyr” had become the same Greek word. [Why]? Because in that time the man or woman who was a witness for Christ had every chance of being a martyr.” Consider the early Christians. They were beaten and imprisoned. They were stoned to death, bludgeoned to death, speared, burned to death, beheaded, and crucified. Of all the disciples only John died a natural death, but even he spent the last years of his life as a prisoner exiled on the Isle of Patmos.
“They did not love their lives so much
— Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
as to shrink from death.”
Lord, help us to be faithful today so we can stand firm when persecution comes. Amen.