We have heard that 21 Coptic Christians died at the brutal hands of ISIS over the weekend. They are martyrs for their faith.

As I was having my devotions this morning the words of an old hymn written by Frederick Faber came to  mind:

 

Faith of our fathers living still

In spite of dungeon, fire and sword:

O how our hearts beat high with joy

Whene’er we hear that glorious word!

Faith of our fathers holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death!

 

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,

Were still in heart and conscience free:

How sweet would be their children’s fate,

If they like them could die for Thee!

Faith of our fathers holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death!

 

Faith of our fathers

We will strive

To win all nations unto thee,

And thro’ the truth that comes from God,

Mankind shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death!

 

Faith of our fathers

We  will love

Both friend and foe in all our strife:

And preach thee too as love knows how,

By kindly words and virtuous life.

Faith of our fathers holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death!

 

These 21 martyrs were true ’til death.

The last verse is the hard one – to love both friend and foe. We are commanded to love our enemies. That does not mean to be weak. We have a God-given duty to protect our homeland and families from the evil that is crouching at our gate. And it is evil – pure and heinous evil – straight from hell itself. These militants, radicals, have one thing on us – they are committed to what they believe!

Am I that committed to Jesus? Are you?