Martyr Monday

Today is the first day of Martyr Monday's. I bought a new book after Christmas called Extreme Devotion, it's a "production" of a non profit and interdenominational organization called The Voice of the Martyrs. Each day has a story about a martyr, along with a Bible verse, and a short explanation or something to think about. I've really been touched by the stories, and I thought I would share them with you each Monday.

EXTREME WILLINGNESS

Philippines: A Young Girl

"My dress," the young girl murmered, her words slurred through swollen lips. "Please give me my dress. I want to hold it."

The Christians surrounding the girl's bed were sad. Because of her extensive internal injuries, doctors could do nothing for her. Weeks ago, the believers had bought her a white dress to celebrate her new life and pure heart in Christ Jesus.

Her father had not been pleased with his daughter's decision to follow Christ. One night, in a drunken rage, he attacked his daughter, beating and kicking her. He left her lying in the muddy street to die.

When she did not show up for church, her Christian friends went looking for her. They found the girl unconscious, lying in a heap, her formerly snow white dress now covered in blood and mud. She was brought to a doctor, but her injuries were severe.

Now she was asking for her dress.

"The dress is ruined," her friends told her. They tried to talk her out of it, thinking that seeing the ruined dress would break down the girl's spirit.

With the simple faith of a ten-year-old, she whispered, "Please, I want to show the dress to Jesus. He was willing to bleed for me. I just want Jesus to know that I was willing to bleed for Him."

Shortly afterwards, the young girl died.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13

God is not interested in our ability. We may be talented. Resourceful. Wealthy. Professional, popular, and punctual. Offering our various abilities in God's service, however, is nothing like offering our availability. Our availibilities are about ourselves - we can see ourselves doing this or that for God. In contrast, our availability is about God alone - we can only imagine how God will use us in his service. Being available to God means being willing to obey no matter what the cost. God wants our willingness to serce him regardless of our specific abilities. How do we become so willing? That, too, is God's gift. He gives us the "want to" - the will or desire to be available to him.

(White, Tom, comp. "Extreme Willingness." Extreme Devotion. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2001. 33.)