Day 1068 · Year 3 · The Great Tradition
Ignatius of Antioch on costly faithfulness
A bishop on his way to be martyred wrote letters full of joy.
Today's passage
Revelation 2:10
10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain
Reflection
Ignatius of Antioch was arrested around AD 110 and taken to Rome to be killed. On the way, he wrote seven letters — and they read not as the words of a man being broken, but as the words of a man being formed. He understood himself as wheat being ground into bread for Christ. Most of us will never be martyred. But faithfulness still costs. Today's small 'no' to compromise, today's small 'yes' to inconvenient obedience, is the same texture of life Ignatius was practicing on the road to Rome.
From the great tradition · paraphrased
Ignatius of Antioch · Apostolic Fathers · 1st–2nd c. · Syria
Ignatius of Antioch walked toward his own death convinced that union with Christ is more real than any threat against the body — and that the costliest moments of obedience can also be the most full of joy.
Paraphrase only. Scripture, not any teacher, is the authority.
Think it through
- What does Christ promise to the faithful in Revelation 2:10?
- What does it mean that faithfulness can be both costly and joyful?
- What small costly faithfulness is in front of you today?
A prayer to pray
Bring the costly obedience to Christ. Ask him for the courage Ignatius had — and the joy that came with it.