Sacrifice

 Awhile back, I mentioned that we didn’t feel that we had ever experienced ‘Self Sacrifice’.  The Sunday school lesson in a little church we visited a couple of weeks ago talked about the Blessing of Giving.  As I sat there listening, I really was convicted that, not only had we not sacrificed for the Kingdom, but I wondered if we’ve even given enough over the years.

 

In reply, Tony offered a comment from the “History of the Bible” course he’s been teaching in Hawaii. It was about a guy named Polycarp, and his attitude is one we might take to heart. Rather than try to paraphrase the story, let me just give it to you as it was written, which I believe was a quote from another source:

 

“Warned that his arrest was impending, elderly Bishop Polycarp left his home in Smyrna and hid in a farmhouse. Smyrnans had recently executed several Christians for their faith, and now a mob was demanding the bishop’s life. “Kill the church leader,” they reasoned, “and his church will die.”

“The governor dispatched soldiers to track down the old man, who by the way, has the distinction of being one of the last churchmen who actually studied at the feet of the Apostle John. The soldiers torture witnesses, who reveal Polycarp’s whereabouts. His hiding place betrayed, Polycarp moves to another. And here is a point we might take aboard: One must face martyrdom boldly when it comes, Polycarp believed, but no one should seek it.

“The authorities discovered where he was hiding, and soldiers arrived to arrest him. He welcomed them as if they were old friends and asked that they be served food and drink, requesting only an hour to pray before being marched to the arena. They agreed. Overhearing his godly prayers, the soldiers wondered why they were arresting him. Surely this was a good man! They allowed the hour to stretch into two.

“Finally, they could delay no longer. They hauled Polycarp in. Near the city, a magistrate approached in a chariot and, taking Polycarp into it, tried to persuade him to simply sacrifice to their gods and everything would be forgotten. When Polycarp refused, the magistrate pushed him out of the chariot so roughly that he fell and scraped his shin badly.

“He limped behind the soldiers into the amphitheatre where great numbers of people were gathered. At the  sight of him, the mob set up loud cries of rage and savage delight. The governor asked him to deny Christ and promised that if he would do that, his life would be spared. But the faithful bishop answers, “Four score and six years have I served him, and he has never done me injury; how then can I now blaspheme my King and Savior?”

“When Polycarp rejected further pressures to deny Jesus, the governor threatened to burn him. Polycarp turned the tables and warned him of eternal fire. The governor ignored him and ordered the execution to proceed. The soldiers prepared to nail Polycarp to the stake, but he assured them nails wouldn‘t be needed, so he was tied instead. The fire was lit, and the flames rose around him, but seemed to be avoiding his body. Finally a soldier, in a moment of mercy, killed Polycarp with a sword. The good old man was dead, an inspiration to others who would perish in similar circumstances for centuries to come.”

 

I can’t help but remember that chorus that’s been going around lately,  It has a nice tune, but more importantly (always) even more wonderful lyrics.  See if you know this song. (You can look it up and even listen to it on Google, of course) 

 

The chorus goes like this:

 

“… All my life you have been faithful
And all my life you have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God”

 

This then, is a partial answer to the question I have asked myself: “Have I given enough for the Kingdom?” From Polycarp:

“Fourscore and six years have I served him, and he has never done me injury; how then can I now blaspheme my King and Savior?”

Sometimes our giving is not in the things we do or even the sacrifices we make, but rather in the quiet, day-to-day stuff of life, knowing that God is with you and faithful every step of the way. If we’re called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, we can recall Polycarp’s observation that “One must face martyrdom boldly when it comes, but no one should seek it”

 

Until that time of reckoning, if it comes, we are called to simply be faithful. In the significant moments and in the mundane.

 

Tell me what you think.

 

Love,

 

Marsha

 

PS. If you’re reading this, we’re still on a  cruise across the hurricane ridden Atlantic.  Hopefully you’ll hear from us next week too!