“We love the old saints, missionaries, martyrs, and reformers. Our Luthers, Bunyans, Wesleys and Asburys, etc... We will write their biographies, reverence their memories, frame their epitaphs, and build their monuments. We will do anything except imitate them. We cherish the last drop of their blood, but watch carefully over the first drop of our own.” - A.W. Tozer

King David said he would not offer a sacrifice to the Lord that cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). Jesus said in order to find our lives we must lose our lives (Matthew 10:39). The Apostle Paul said that he no longer lives, but it is Christ who lives in him (Galatians 2:20).

In resource-rich societies (such as ours) we will happily lend our expertise, our money, and maybe even our time to causes we deem worthwhile. But what about our very lives? What of taking up our crosses and following our Savior (Matthew 16:24)? What if following Jesus will take us to places we do not want to go - like, the mission field? Like a simple, quiet, and obscure existence whose faithfulness is seen only by the Father? Like a life of discomfort, free of the ways we distract, avoid, and numb the pain, suffering, and brokenness within and without?

For followers of Jesus, we know that we must die to ourselves. But perhaps the first death is realizing that we cannot choose the place and manner of our deaths. But it is in dying that we bear much fruit (John 12:24). It is in being united with Christ in a death like his, that we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:5).

Father, we are grateful for the faithful witness of the saints throughout time and history who have given their lives - body and soul, in life and in death - to you. We pray that our lives would be conformed to the image of Christ in His life and in His death, for Your glory, and our good, amen.

Amen,