Faithful unto death
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Te Deum
Read Revelation 7:9—17
I have a great privilege in being part of a church, a little figure among a vast multitude, an individual member, an insignificant one, in a living body. As weak as I may be in faith, I live among the faithful. There are people of faith who I look to, whose faith I know leads them to a surrendered life. I know from them that the mark of ultimate faith is to be ready to die, and that we have such people throughout the life of the church. They are witnesses to me. They are implicitly true to Jesus. Threatened with death itself, they have allowed nothing to get in the way of their response to Jesus. As he has held onto them, they have clung to him through the pain.
Prayer
Father, I live in the time of martyrs. This is in my own day. I worship you with them and partly because of them. I praise you that throughout the whole era of the church men and women have counted their witness to Jesus more precious than being able to get up next day. This night I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill with joy and courage those who are imprisoned, threatened and tortured for their faith, ostracised by families, ridiculed or denied advancement and opportunity. Bless me with such faithfulness, such a love for Christ.