September 19, 2016 
Ignatius, 108 A.D.
Ignatius was martyred during the third persecution, under Trajan, a Roman emperor. Upon arrest, Ignatius was transported from his home in Smyrna to Rome. During his journey he instructed the church in Rome:
not to use means for his deliverance from martyrdom, lest they should deprive him of that which he most longed and hoped for
Concerning his pending trial and martyrdom, Ignatius says:
Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!
Foxes Book of Martyrs
Thanks for this post. Much (most?) of contemporary Christianity knows nothing of this kind of commitment and costly discipleship. But thank God there is a quiet revolution going on around the world, pursuing ‘church’ as she was meant to be.
Amen! i agree, i heard at my local church building this week “the church is dying”. I thought “no it isn’t” it can’t die, it’s a Spiritual body of True believers and not the false and fake group of people who want to be entertained and have their ears tickled.
Thanks so much for taking time to comment, share and for stopping by, it blesses me so much. Thank you and God bless you. 😀