Hosanna Restoration Church

You may be wondering what the words manger and martyr have to do with one another and then again you may already see that they have everything to do with one another. When Jesus chose to come to that manger, he also set in motion the path to the cross. He loved us and gave himself for us. Since that time, there have been many who have died for their faith in God. I think it is safe to say that while many know it is a possibility that they could end up martyrs, no one really wants to be one. Not in the Christian faith anyway. In the Christian faith we want to live for God and reveal Him to others. Still, while we do not desire to be martyrs, we must be willing if it is necessary.

I believe that the Lord put this word on my heart as a final thought, at least for now, on the manger. For though we may not be called upon to die physically for our faith, we are often required to die to ourselves for the sake of the gospel. And so in a sense we are often martyrs so that the seed of the gospel might be planted in a life around us.

It is in the manger that Christ is born in us, and it is to the manger that we must go if selfishness is going to give way to selflessness, or anger is going to give way to peace, or if my way is going to give way to “thy way oh Lord.”

Yes, serving the Lord is righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. Yes Jesus came that we might be made whole and have abundant life. He also came to show us how to give our lives for the sake of others. We must be determined in our hearts that we will partake and enjoy all that the Lord sets before us. We also must be just as prepared to give as we are to receive. We must come to live, as Paul wrote in Galatians, not for ourselves but for Him.

We must be aware that our lives are not our own and that we may be called at any moment give up our way for His way. So while we are able to enjoy all the goodness of God, we must be prepared at a moments notice to share that in whatever way we can.

This preparedness comes from being in His presence. It is not just missionaries or pastors whom God calls to do these things. It is everyone who desires to live for Him. The Bible tells us that all who live for God will suffer persecution. Everyone is called to lay down their own life to live the new life in Christ Jesus. Each one is promised all the benefits and at the same time, each one has a responsibility to live that life to its fullest. The earthly ministry of Jesus culminated at the cross. From there He went on to defeat sin and death. He made a way for us to go to the manger for new life. Martyrs are born in mangers. May all our lives be hid with Christ in God as we celebrate the birth of our savior and Lord Jesus Christ.