Cherish every practice of devotion greatly. Be ready in mind for red martyrdom. Be persevering and steadfast for white martyrdom. Forgive every person from your heart. Pray constantly for those who annoy you.

- A Rule for Hermits (Irish, 9th century)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

- 1 Peter 1.13

Celtic Christians, as we have said before, saw the Christian life as a calling to martyrdom. Green martyrdom involved going off on your own from a monastery or school to construct a hut in the woods and wait on the Lord for how He might lead further. White martyrdom was every person's calling to live all of life for Christ and His Kingdom. And red martyrdom, well, that's probably self-evident.

Believers were taught from youth to get their minds ready for martyrdom, to live and witness for Christ as often and in as many ways as possible. Being a witness for Christ was not an option, but this lifestyle could only be learned in community, where soul friends encouraged and helped one another to fulfill their callings.

Living in community like this, being constantly encouraged to live for Christ, could be challenging - maybe even a little annoying. But these exhortations and words of encouragement and accountability are holy annoyances; we need them so that we will press on in our calling.

So as we get our minds ready to live as witnesses for Christ, let us also prepare to forgive those who annoy us - for whatever reason - and, even more, to love them as Christ loves us. Perhaps your life does not annoy the Savior from time to time. Mine does, I'm quite sure, and I would be hopelessly lost without His love and forgiveness.

So make up your mind to witness and to bear with those who urge you on in holiness. You need them, and the world needs what their annoying exhortations can bring to it through your faithfulness.

Thank God for your calling - and for those annoying brothers and sisters who are unremitting in urging you on in your mission.

Today in ReVision: Islam Moment

This Week's Download: Soul Friends

We'd love to have you join us Thursday night to pray for revival at 9:00 Eastern. Write me, and I'll see to it you get the call-in information.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.