Deuteronomy 26:16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
This is a rather familiar refrain found in various places in the Old Testament, but the Japanese in this location has an interesting difference that caught my eye. Where the English says, “heart and soul,” the Japanese here says “heart and life.” Put another way, God is to die for! Actually, countless saints down through the ages have given their lives rather than deny their Creator, Lord, and Savior, and that number continues to rise even today, perhaps more than ever before. In countries like Japan and the US, we tend to overlook this fact, and the admonition in Hebrews that says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:4) We need to not just be “paper Christians,” like the “paper drivers” who have a license but never drive, but rather commit ourselves to follow Christ all the way, just as He told us to. The problem is that we tend to weight the things of this world, including our physical lives, more than the things of eternity. That is shortsighted and foolish in the extreme. We need to have the perspective Paul expressed so clearly: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) Anything less is failing to obey what this verse, and so many others, command.
I’ve never been in a situation where I was threatened with martyrdom, but I realize that’s not the only way to give my life for Christ. I often think of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were both told they would “drink the cup” that Jesus was going to drink. (Matthew 20:22-23) James was the first of the 12 to be martyred, (Acts 12:2) but John died in his 90s, at least. Both of them gave their lives for Jesus, but James did it the easier way! I’m not to complain at how I am called to give my life for Jesus, but rather rejoice in the honor and privilege of doing do. The question is not my circumstances, but rather my commitment.
Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I’m safely at home, having this devotional time in my usual location. May I not take any of Your blessings for granted, but rather walk in total commitment all the time, for Your honor and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!