Extreme Devotion and Grace

My familiarity with Africa made a devotion in the book, Extreme Devotion, written by The Voice of the Martyrs, even more meaningful. I was touched by the widow’s boldness. In my understanding of African culture and protocol, normally a widow does not address mourners at her husband’s funeral. Usually, if she wants to say something, a family member speaks on her behalf. This courageous widow went against tradition and protocol because what she had to say was extremely important. In my opinion, the words and tone she used spoke of extreme devotion and grace. Her firm grasp and understanding of who God was before the attack, and who He was in the midst of her pain, is an example of what it means to be like Christ. As you read part of the devotion below, pray for families of martyrs around the world. Ask God to give them boldness to share the gospel.

Extreme Grace: Kenya: A widow (p.73): “Before we finish this funeral service,” her words rang out clearly to the thousand people in attendance, “I want to tell you what my husband told me before dying. He asked me to tell all his murderers that he goes to heaven loving whole heartedly everybody, including his assassins. He has forgiven all for what they have done because Jesus loves and will also forgive them.”

She stood over her husband’s coffin. There were tears in her eyes, but her voice was strong. The bruises on her body told the mourners that she too, had been beaten. As Christians, she and her husband had refused to take a Kikuyu tribal oath that wasn’t consistent with their Christian faith. For this her husband was beaten to death, and she was beaten and hospitalized.

“…I, as a widow, also tell all of you, in the presence of my dead husband, that I hate none of those who killed him. I love the killers. I forgive them, knowing that Christ has died for them too.” No one in attendance that day would ever forget the widow’s words or her example of extreme forgiveness and grace.

To purchase Extreme Devotion go to www.vombooks.com