For Christmas, my parents gave me the book Extreme Devotional from Voice of the Martyrs. That’s a little like dumping oil onto a fire…it’s just a little dangerous to put a book into the hands of Grace that includes the stories of suffering Christians on each page. I just wanted to share this one with y’all that touched my heart. (And yes, it’s ok to cry)
“My dress,” the young girl murmured, her words slurred through swollen lips. “Please give me my dress. I want to hold it.”
The Christians surrounding the girl’s bed were sad. Because of her extensive internal injuries, doctors could do nothing for her. Weeks ago, the believers had bought her a white dress to celebrate her new life and pure heart in Christ Jesus.
Her father had not been pleased with his daughter’s decision to follow Christ. One night, in a drunken rage, he attacked his daughter, beating and kicking her. He left her lying in the muddy street to die.
When she did not show up for church, her Christian friends went looking for her. They found the girl unconscious, lying in a heap, her formerly snow-white dress now covered in blood and mud. She was brought to a doctor, but her injuries were severe.
Now she was asking for her dress.
“The dress is ruined,” her friends told her. They tried to talk her out of it, thinking that seeing the ruined dress would break down the girl’s spirit.
With the simple faith of a ten-year-old, she whispered, “Please, I want to show the dress to Jesus. He was willing to bleed for me. I just want Jesus to know that I was willing to bleed for Him.”
Shortly afterwards, the young girl died.
I don’t have much to say, I’ll let the story stand on it’s own. There’s something so strangly beautiful about this story that grabs at my heart. I just love her willingness to bleed and die for Christ. Oh how much more should we be willing when it’s only our reputation, time, future and etc. that is on the line.
Remember this promise, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
May we be willing.
In Christ,
Grace
Gal. 2:20, Psalm 16:11
uncommon grace 