Lenten Meditations: Wednesday 6 March
| Wed Mar 6 |
m: 119:97-120 pm: 81, 82 |
Gen 45:16-28 | 1 Cor 8:1-13 | Mark 6:13-29 |
TUESDAY OF LENT III – 42 Martyrs of Amorion in Phrygia (845)
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: The story of these Martyrs is being played out again as we in the Church stand shocked over the acts of terrorism towards the Christian Community in Syria and Northern Iraq. The continued persecution of Middle Eastern Christians should not only break our hearts but compel us to be firm in our faith in the freedoms many of us enjoy. The Martyrs remembered today were taken captive when Amorion in Phrygia as it fell to the Muslims in 838, during the reign of Emperor Theophilus. Many of them were officers, and because of their status and reputation, their captors, rather than kill them, attempted to convert them to Islam. The forty-two were kept in a miserable dungeon in Syria, where they were alternately promised the highest honors and privileges if they would convert and threatened with the most horrible consequences if they refused. This continued for seven full years, but none would deny his faith in Christ. Finally, unable to shake their faith, their captors beheaded them all in 845.
BIBLICAL MEDITATION OF THE DAY: This portion of the Joseph story is an excellent reminder of God’s provision for His people. Through Joseph, God provided abundantly beyond what Jacob and his other sons ever could have expected. We saw how God provided for all their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, in His timing, not theirs, that is the key for us, isn’t it? The daily challenge is to wait on God in his timing and infinite wisdom for blessing. That is hard for us who live in a fast-paced automatic self-gratification society. Yet in living in that cultural milieu, we know that it is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that what we receive from God is the result of grace, not through merit. When faced with absolute destruction the 42 Martyrs commemorated today no doubt were faced with the crucible of what they believed. It would have been easier to capitulate, but they knew God’s eternal provision would outlast anything their captors could offer and prevent us from experiencing Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Gracious God, these servants remembered this day did so contend on earth for Christ’s glory and were shown forth as godly crown-bearing Martyrs, have been vouchsafed to dwell with you in Heaven joyously. Since you have broken all the snares of the enemy’s cunning by your sufferings and the blood of your tortures and wounding, give us the grace as you gave them at Phrygia the strength and courage to face the suffering for the Gospel so that we may honor you. Amen
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “The early church was married to poverty, prisons, and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity. –Leonard Ravenhill
Lenten Lyrics- Song of the Martyrs by Suzi Wills Yaraei
Lenten Discipline – Go to https://htp.org/the-forgotten-persecuted-christians-in-syria-need-your-help to learn more about the plight of Christians now being persecuted. Consider adopting a refugee family, participating in a fundraising for children sending immediate funds to assist persecuted Christians.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
