The Love of a Martyr?

I’ve been pondering two distinct trains of thought I’ve heard lately regarding how God wants to interact with His people.

First, I’ve heard an emphasis on God calling people deeper into relationship with Him, relating to Him as Father, on a personal basis. Second, I’ve heard the vital need for a generation with a martyr mentality, willing to do anything and go anywhere for the cause of Christ.

At first, the two viewpoints seemed almost contradictory. How does a Father’s love mesh with martyrdom?

And I’ve realized the real problem is trying to keep them separate, not together. Let me explain.

Think for a minute of the person or people you love most in the world. If you were at the gas station with them and someone pulled out a gun, you wouldn’t hesitate in putting yourself in harm’s way to protect them.

It’s not because you’re super spiritual. It’s because you have such a depth of relationship with them that the value of your own life pales before the value of theirs.

God may not need physically protected, but His honor and reputation is being assaulted every hour of every day from every direction. Beyond that, there are countless people who will never hear the truth of the Kingdom of God if no one looks past their own comfort to reach them.

So here’s the question – is it possible to have such a depth of relationship with God, with Jesus, with Holy Spirit, that there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for Him?

What if, in fact, there’s no other way to truly live for Him?

I’m finding out that sacrifice without relationship is just religious fanaticism, and relationship without sacrifice is simply selfish ambition. We already have enough of both all around us.

What if, instead of focusing on one or the other, we allowed them to come together inside of us?  Took the time to really experience the love God has not only for us individually, but for all His people?

 What if we let that love ravage our defenses, destroy every fear, wreck every need to protect ourselves, and then set us on fire and let us loose on the world around us?

It sounds a lot like the book of Acts, doesn’t it?

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