In the week ahead, you will encounter an untold number of hollow words, superficial headlines, vapid lies from people eager to save their own skin. But this table is a substantial Word, a meal of true meat and drink. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word became flesh and didn’t try to save His own skin. That flesh bled among us and that flesh and blood still speak. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). But “testimony” there comes from the Greek “marturia.” Martyrdom is the lifeblood of preaching. If you are really going to teach others, train children, testify to the darkness about the light, then you must bleed.

The instagram influencer thinks, “But if I do that, I won’t be around to post another video; and it likely won’t look good on camera.” This is true in one sense but untrue in another. Abel died his blood cried out from the ground. The death of Christ still proclaims through our lips here. This kind of sacrifice cannot be accomplished apart from God’s grace. And this is why you must come in faith and welcome to Jesus.