The 300 soldiers of Sparta became heros because they were willing to lay down their life in service to their king, Sparta & Greece. There is something within us that admires that quality... something of God, I believe! Our King Jesus also asks us to lay down our lives:
Mat 10:38-39 CEV (38) And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples. (39) If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.
However, for most of us... we will never be called to the sudden sacrifice of martyrdom... but rather the life long pursuit of God, where daily we make choices where we say, 'Not my will, but Your Will be done.' I love this quote:
Fred Craddock, in an address to ministers, caught the practical implications of consecration. "To give my life for Christ appears glorious," he said. "To pour myself out for others. . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom -- I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. "We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking $l,000 bill and laying it on the table-- 'Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.' But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost.' Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious. It's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at at time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."
I hope this has encouraged you... as you daily make the choices, 'Not my will God, but Your Will be done.'
I'd love to hear your comments : )
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