January 13, 2026

BETTER FOR US TO DIE

1 Maccabees 3:59-60 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“For it is better for us to die in war than to look upon the evils the Gentiles would bring to us and the sanctuary. But as God’s will is in heaven, so He will do.”

Personal Challenge

How willing are we, am I, to stand firm on the belief that we, I, have? The Maccabees, like so many of the martyrs throughout history, were willing to stand firm on their profession of their faith, even to the point of death. We have been blessed as a people of faith for quite some time now and we may be surprised if we ever get truly tested for our faith. That day may be coming, if it is not already here. Are we, am I, are you, willing to tell the acuser that we are a follower of Christ, and will never renounce that. Are we, am I, are you, willing to do what Jesus commanded us to do regardless what another, especially an authoritarian government says to us, or threatens us with. This is being able to proclaim that it is better to die than to betray our Lord and his expectations of us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!