Martyr Lives
By W. C. Moore
We should walk so close to Jesus day by day that if He calls us to stand in a martyr’s shoes, He will give us a martyr’s grace. His Word says decisively: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deut. 33:25). But this same word applies also to strength needed day by day to live a martyr life!
It is wonderful to have the privilege and honor of dying as a martyr for Jesus – to seal our testimony with our blood, to suffer death rather than to deny our Lord. But in these days God is also calling for those who – in their intensity of love for Him – will voluntarily live martyr lives.
To live a martyr life means that our own life, our own wishes, our own preferences, our own ideas – are not dearer to us than a consuming love for the Lord Jesus Christ, which overwhelms us, and our very life is poured out daily, hourly for Him. How can I be dismayed or disheartened when disappointments come if my eyes, my thoughts and my desires are unto the Lord Jesus Christ and not unto my own selfish interests? Can I not instantly take each and every disappointment, every trial, and every heartache and lay it at the nail-pierced feet of Him who is touched with the feeling of my infirmities? (Heb. 4:15).
In my wholehearted, fervent efforts to follow Jesus and to do everything to please Him, I am not looking to see how MY interests are affected by what happens, whether for better or for worse. My eyes are on Him, and He knows my love for Him. All that I am concerned about is this: will my Lover Divine accept the freewill offering of my devoted service to Him? Will He be pleased, will He place His blessing upon my poor, imperfect efforts?
My Alabaster Box (Matthew 26:6-13)
My alabaster box has to be broken and the precious ointment poured out if I am to manifest my love to Jesus and the fragrance is to fill the house (John 12:1-8). Am I doing things for the Lord that cost me something? Am I pouring out my very life, my all, in glad eager service for Him?
Praise God for the wonderful privilege of living a martyr life! We do not have to wait until we can seal our testimony of love to God and to His Son Jesus Christ, by dying a martyr’s death. Day by day, moment by moment we have the glorious privilege of living a martyr’s life.
Can I not be sensitive to the gentle restraint of the nail-scarred hands upon my lips when I would speak a harsh, an unkind, an ill-advised word? Can I not look at sinners with His dying love? Can I not today weep with my Master over the wicked Jerusalems of this sinful age? (Luke 19:28-44).
Ah, friends, God still looks for a man (Ezek. 22:30), He still looks for a woman – who will smash his or her precious alabaster boxes and pour the heart’s love out to Him – that the odor of the ointment may fill the house, and that sinners and saints may have a manifest expression of that burning devotion to the Lord Jesus. This embodies the very essence of salvation, full and free. Yes, free to all – the "whosoevers" around the whole world (John 3:14-18; Rev. 22:17).
Is it not sadly true that instead of growing in grace (2 Pet. 3:18), many times we are growling? We can hardly grow and growl at the same time. Every bump should make us better. Let us trust in God at all times – in the dark as well as in the light. Let us pour out our hearts before Him (Psa. 62:8).
Tell the Lord Jesus about all our trials, all our griefs – and also about all our joys. Where we fail many times is in this: We do not instantly come to Him and let Him fit His gentle, love-lined yoke upon us – when we labor and are heavy laden (Matt. 11:28-30).
Remember: the devil is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:9-11). Never for a moment listen to his accusations, either of yourself or of others, but go by what God’s Word says. Hide God’s Word in your heart that you might not sin against Him (Psa. 119:9-12).
The Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh (James 5:8)
Let multitudes today around the world join in a holy compact to live martyr lives unto the Lord they love – to smash alabaster boxes, to forsake all and follow Him (Matt. 19:27-30; Luke 14:33), to obey His Word, to give Him thanks and praise for the very things we have heretofore been complaining and murmuring about (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Let us go all-out for Jesus as we have never done before, to be unconcerned about our disappointments and setbacks and sorrows – but rather to be looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-17), and to be altogether taken up with His approval, His will – not our own will or our own way.
Believe God’s Word, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).
Be Not Ashamed of Him Who Died for You!
"Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).
"Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:13-14).