Something burning in your soul. Ever felt that? And you didn’t know what it was?
From the earliest days, the Church of Jesus has been opposed. I grew up wondering about that. Living a church life in this country was a pretty calm experience. We learned catechism and went to church on Sundays. Not too earth shattering.
I had been taught that the Blood of the Martyrs birthed the movement of “The Way.” I didn’t question it, didn’t even think about it. It was a statement of fact.
As a kid, I read several stories of the saints. They were good people. It didn’t seem to me that they sinned much. But that was probably just how the authors presented them since all of mankind is made up of sinners. None—no, not one—was sin-free. So what brought these people who lived before us, to the place of losing their lives? Did they count the cost? And what was the cost?
Through the current study of Acts with my small group, the things that happened then, centuries ago, are coming alive for me. And somehow, they are mixing up with the stories in the current news about NOW martyrs of “The Way.” As I read how the Church was born in violence, constant opposition, beatings, whippings, jail and prison time, and executions, I can’t seem to separate that time from this time.
The message is still the same: Jesus died for us, to cover our sins and wash us clean in the sight of God. He rose from the dead to open the gates of heaven for eternity that we, who claim His sacrifice as our own, can join Him forever.
So, we begin to count the cost. What is the cost in our modern day? Is it the very same cost that our forebears considered?
So – something burning in our souls…
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people,” Acts 2:17.
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” Acts 2:21.
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