MARCH 13, 2013
Living
Testament
Read: 2
Timothy 2:1-10
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the
dead
according to my gospel. —2
Timothy 2:8
Watchman
Nee was arrested for his faith in Christ in 1952, and he spent the rest
of his
life in prison. He died in his jail cell on May 30, 1972. When his niece came
to collect his few possessions, she was given a scrap of paper that a guard had
found by his bed. On it was written his life’s testimony:
“Christ
is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and was
resurrected
after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die
because of
my belief in Christ—Watchman Nee.”
Tradition
says that the apostle Paul also was martyred for his faith in Christ.
In a
letter written shortly before his death, Paul exhorted his readers:
“Remember
that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead
according to
my gospel, for which I suffer trouble . . . ; but the Word of God
is not
chained” (2 Tim. 2:8-9).
We
may not be called upon to be martyred as witnesses to the reality of Christ
—as
millions of His followers through the centuries have been—but we are all
called
to be a living testament of Jesus’ work on our behalf. No matter the
outcome,
from a heart of gratitude for God’s gracious gift we can tell others
what Jesus
has done for us.
The Christ of God to glorify,
His grace in us to magnify;
His Word of life to all make known—
Be this our work, and this alone. —Whittle
Let your life as well as your lips speak for Christ.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
