Hello
You ever notice some hard to swallow statements in the Word? Sometimes I am confident that they could not apply to us in the here and now. And yet, they can. Consider today’s Holy Nougat, it’s hard to swallow. Seriously
“But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.” Philippians 2:17 NLT
Rejoice, in the face of unwarranted loss of life? My own life at that! Paul must’ve been crazy right?! It sounds rather extreme.
Yet, there is a precedent. From as early as Genesis, when Abraham was prepared to sacrifice the one whom he loved more than life itself – Isaac. We could argue that that was not his own self, and that is true, especially with Abraham’s track record (he’d rather exchange Sarah than die!!!); but this was the child he’d have done anything to sire.
More critically, there was Stephen – the first Christian martyr (John The Baptist was a radical Jew, and so was Jesus) – who was killed by stoning. That was the then equivalent of hanging or the chair. Stephen was actually joyful in persecution (see Acts 7) and breathed the divine word of forgiveness over his persecutors. One of whom was Saul of Tarsus, more recently known as Paul the Apostle of Christ. Ironic eh.
One surmises that the ability to rejoice through persecution and willingness to be poured out like a drink offering (think Lord’s Supper), has the potential to impact lives. Sometimes, it’s the very ones who are responsible for our demise. And, like Stephen, we are not blessed to see the transformation. But God does. And truly, that is Who (what) matters.
We might not yet be able to rejoice through trials. That’s okay. It’s a leg of the journey, not even the final destination. Plus, it’s more about the God-Us relationship, which then impacts the Us-Others continuum. And, while it seems contrary to our perspective of justice, it doesn’t accommodate injustice willy nilly, but by its sacrificial intent, sheds light on God’s love, grace and mercy. (And, if we’re dead in Christ, worry about human persecution ought to be less right?)
May God’s Wisdom guide us as we travel this journey called Life in Faith
Good morning
