Savior and King

April/The Martyr Life

6 April 2010

The world's strength is a deception to whoever dwells therein; there is no strength save great love for the Son of Mary...Fleeting is the sovereignty of the wretched world in which we are; the King who rules over the angels is the Lord of every land.

  - Oengus mac Oengobann, Feilire Oengusso (Irish, 9th century)

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

  - Revelation 11.15

Jesus is the quintessential example of the martyr life. He denied His own rights and privileges to take upon Himself the form of a servant for all who were lost in sin (Phil. 2.5-11). He came to bear witness to realities and truths to which we had all turned a blind eye. He overwhelmed us with His goodness and pierced our souls with His true Word. And He gave His life for ours, that we, in turn, might give ours for Him.

Now He reigns over every nation, all peoples, and the whole vast cosmos. He is Savior of all who believe in Him, but He is Lord over one and all. Those who know Him as Savior must submit to Him as Lord and King; only thus can they take up the martyr life that leads to humble service and exalted glory. Those who deny or refuse to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, will one day do so anyway, yet too late to do them any good.

We give thanks and humble praise to Jesus as our Savior; we give our lives for His Kingdom and glory who acknowledge Him as King. Without the latter, the former is meaningless; where the former is true and sincere, the latter follows like day from night. As we see Jesus standing at the right hand of God on the Cross of Muiredach - people drawn to Him from His right and sent out by Him from His left, angels above ready to do His bidding, and the rebellious cast under His feet below - let us join with our Celtic forebears to embrace the martyr life of Jesus as our own calling.

Where will this calling take you today? How will you show, by your words and deeds, that you have forsaken all in order to give everything to and for our King, even Jesus? The martyr life, as Jesus showed, is one of self-denial, loving service, faithful witness, and, yes, even rejection and suffering. But to this life all are called who would follow in the steps of our martyred but reigning Savior and King.

Today in ReVision: Where There is No Vision

This Week's Download: Be Witnesses - Get it, read it, work through it, and live it out.

The Hidden Life can help you draw closer to our risen King. Go to the website, click Publications, then click Waxed Tablet.

T. M. Moore, nacurragh@aol.com