Thursday, July 10, 2008
Martyrs
By Ramone - July 10, 2008
As I put my son to bed last night, I thought of an outtake scene from the movie "Gladiator", in which the gladiator hero looks out the window of his den preparing for the fight. He sees Christians huddled together, holding one another and in prayer, as lions approach them. Instead of pouncing, the lion just approaches the prey that doesn't run, puts its paw up on one, and the scene ends. It moved me deeply when I saw it, and I wish it had been included in the final version of the film.
As I thought on this last night, the Spirit began to melt me deep inside and is making me weep as I write this:
I am calling and raising up martyrs, witnesses, My people who will be so filled with love for Me and love for those on My heart, even their enemies who may kill them...I wept in the Spirit as I began the picture, and off and on as I painted it, and now as I write about it. He is calling us to have, ask for, and receive the heart & spirit of martyrs.
"These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."He is calling us to ask for and receive the heart of a martyr -- the heart of one more in love with Him and more in love with those on His heart that in love with his/her own life. One in love more with the lives of his/her enemies than his/her own life. The martyr's heart is His heart, the heart of the One who gave His life for us while we were His enemies, while we crucified Him.
- Revelation 2:8-11
"They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death."
- Revelation 12:11
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."He's calling us to see through His eyes, to see His love, to see how much He loves us and how much He loves them. Break our hearts, Father, with Your love for us, for all the people You gave Your Son for, in Jesus' name. Thank You, Father, for Your love, Your protection, and Your heart. Raise us up. Call us. Fill us with Your courage and Your love for our enemies, in Jesus' name, amen.
- Romans 5:6-8
# posted by Ramone @ 3:51 PM 
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