THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO PAID A PRICE

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

Many of us live in a house someone else built, eat food someone else prepared, or work for a company someone else started and live in a country that others, previously and right now, gave their lives to protect.

Have you ever known someone who always seemed to go that extra mile? Did you have a mother that would sometimes do without so that you might have what you needed or a dad who worked extra in order to provide for his family?
Did someone in your family or someone you know give life or limb to defend our country? Have you ever thought about all the discomfort that men and women in uniform had to go through so you and I could live comfortably?

There have also been many, many Christian warriors who have given their lives in order to share the gospel of Christ so we could enjoy the blessings of God as we do today. These people were on the cutting edge of Christianity – on the front line of fire. Though it is under threat today, we still enjoy the blessings of liberty – freedom to worship God according to our convictions.

That was not always the case. The Apostle Paul said:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4.8-12)
Paul was not afraid to speak about what he believed and never tired of it. He said he knew that “He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus.” And, “We faint not; but though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

The apostle did all of this for the Lord who purchased him with his blood and for those who he would be honored to lead to Christ:

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4.15)
Millions of Christians even now still give thanks to God for the apostles, all of whom died violently at the hands of persecutors or (as in the case of John) in exile on a Roman prison island.

May God be glorified as we thank him today for those in the last two millennia who paid dearly because they truly believed in the good news of Christ. Give him thanks for the one or ones who told you about Jesus and demonstrated what it is to live the Christian life. Let’s thank him for pastors, evangelists, missionaries and just common people who care not if it’s unpopular but don't mind vocalizing the love of Christ.