Apex last night and Grace this morning.
Last night Pastor Rob shared a story of the celebration of the 100 anniversary of Christian missionaries coming to a certain country (Paupa New Guinea?). At this event, one of the natives of the land got up and made an announcement. He was only of the oldest men still living and he said that he had important information and if he didn't reveal it, it would die with him. He said that when the missionaries first came, the people didn't want them there, so they poisoned them. Missionary children started dying. Yet as the number of graves rose, the missionaries did not give up or get discouraged. This elderly man ended by saying, "It was watching them die that made us want to join them."
Lord, so often we hear people say that people will come to Jesus as they watch how we live. Yet here it is death that brought the change.
I want to live and die as such. Oh Lord, I am reminded of my desire to be martyred for you and my desire to live everyday as a martyr. May I both live and die for Your Glory. In watching me die, may others want to join the cause of Christ. Oh, I know that it is not easy. Perhaps it means a lifetime of sickness. May I be found faithful as I pass through the fire.
Use my life, Lord. Use my sickness. May my life truly be a beautiful, broken offering to you.
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