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Scripture
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Observation
Ten years ago I led a Jehovah’s Witness pastor to the Lord. It was one of the hardest and easiest adventures once I discovered how God works best. His name is Tony, and besides a lifetime saturated in the Watchtower, he was a brilliant mathematician who wrote school textbooks for fun. His mind was sealed like Fort Knox.

Tony came to me, or rather the Lord dragged him. Like many trapped in legalistic organizations, he had discovered that there was no grace to be had among his fellow doorbell ringers when his marriage soured, ended in divorce and he remarried. His new wife nagged him into our church. He hated the church, but he seemed to like me.

I was launching a series on Romans, and Tony phoned to ask more questions. That began a 5 month Bible study of Paul’s masterpiece. What brought Tony out of law and into grace was not a theological argument, but the kindness of the Lord to touch the hurt in his life. In one session I asked Tony to give me a bullet point list of what he thought God is like. A week later I asked him to give me a bullet point list to describe his own dad. To his amazement the lists were identical. I then tossed him a book about finding the perfect parent in God. Tony came back the next week with eyes opened wide. He said, “That is an amazing book.”

That was the beginning of the crumbling that led Tony to Jesus. Tony found a quieter church and invited me to his baptism. Afterwards, his living room was full of Jehovah’s Witnesses like himself who had fallen into grace. As I listened to their stories, I heard a similar theme. What changed their lives was not another human argument, but God’s mighty weapons like a testimony, an answer to prayer, a miracle or simple love.

Paul listed these things as the greatest obstacles in his ministry:
human reasoning,
false arguments,
proud obstacles,
and rebellious thoughts.

What undermined them all was not the brilliance of Paul’s graduate school logic, but the supra-rational wisdom of God. What topples the greatest arguments is love, faith, hope, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. These are God’s greatest weapons.

It is interesting to see how Paul carefully chose his words. He did not haggle with people, he confronted ideas. He was able to love even those who opposed him, while he wrestled to free them from ideas not submissive to Christ.

Application
It is not my logic but my love of Christ and for others that is how I will overcome.

Prayer
Father, I ask that today you would press into my hands the mighty weapons that you have to give. Amen.

Scripture
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.” Revelation 11:3

Observation
Why are we told the story of two prophets in Revelation? It is a prophecy about the future, but the story tells us just as much about the present. These two men are role models for us today.

The Greek word for “witness” is a painful one. The word is martus, from which comes the English word “martyr”. That word has come to mean the ultimate witness of someone giving life to back up their words. But the word “martyr” originally meant to speak words to die for every day. The ultimate act of martyrdom is only the result of living a martyr’s life.

When we rightly understand the meaning of this word “witness” we discover that it is a call to live the daily life of one who does not flinch from death but speaks the words that must be spoken. God is speaking and not all that he has to say is easy to hear. We are the ones called to speak. If we hold onto life, our reputation, our credibility, our possessions, then we will not be willing to speak the costly words of God. But if we will let go of our life day by day and speak what must be said then we are worthy of the word “witness.”

Application
“And you will be my witnesses.” Jesus said that. “Witness” is just another word for a Christian. Jesus has changed our lives and we have a story to tell. But that word is deeply moored in sacrifice of daily martyrdom as we choose not to be afraid of losing life. A martyr has come to mean to us a dead person. But that is not the intention of God for the word “witness”. The Lord is seeking living martyrs for him. That is my call.

Prayer
Father, the image of these men dressed in burlap in a world of microfiber is jarring enough. That they were called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice is harder. But their role as martyrs would have any application to me is a new thought to grapple with. Grant me the courage to speak what needs to be said when I would rather not. Help me to gain courage from them and others like them to live a martyr’s life even though I may never die a martyr’s death. Amen.