Welcome to the Hackberry House of Chosun. My name is Bob, and I'm reading today from a devotional book put out by Voice of the Martyrs. It's called Extreme Devotion, and this book catalogs the struggles of God's people over past years. Today we visit old Romania. We're talking about a faithful prisoner there. In the jail at Garia, Romania, the names of prisoners believed to have broken the rules were noted, and each was given 25 lashes. There was a special day set aside when the painful punishment was administered. On that day an officer would pass from cell to cell gathering those who were to be flogged. Since the warden changed shifts continually and the prisoners were many, it was impossible to know all the inmates by name. A certain Christian inmate would step forward and say, ìI am he,î each time a guard called in his cell for one to be beaten. He would be brutally whipped again and again in the place of another. In the end, when this Christian prisoner was near death after one of the sacrificial floggings, the other prisoners tried to comfort him. They told him, brother, be happy now. Soon everything will be over. You will be in heaven. There will be no more pain, only joy. He turned and looked at them with love and replied, may God do to me as he wills. But if he were to ask me, I would tell him not to take me to paradise. I would prefer to remain in jail, for I know that above are unspeakable delights, but in heaven one thing is missing, to sacrifice oneself for another." John 15, 13 says, ìGreater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.î In a world that values hoarding over sharing, the biblical principle of sacrifice seems like a strange idea. Get as much as you can as quick as you can is the name of the game when it comes to worldly ideals. The Bible teaches another means of success. It's called sacrifice, laying down one's life for another. It's not natural. It does not sound appealing to our lower nature. Once we try, however, it becomes a compelling way of life. God's Holy Spirit inside of us helps us to put ourselves second behind others. In fact, His Spirit even helps us want to do it. Are you willing to put others' needs above your own? Interesting question, don't you think? If you'd like a copy of Extreme Devotion, and it's not a free book, but if you would like your own copy, email voiceofthemartyrs at thevoice at vom.org. This is the Hackberry House of Chosun, and Lord willing, we'll talk again real soon. Bye-bye.