Hey Reader,

Most weekends, during my Saturday Sabbath time of rest, I enjoy watching documentaries and learning about the lives of Christian leaders, pastors, and martyrs throughout history. There’s something about hearing their stories that reminds me of the significance of our faith and challenges me to consider what it truly means to live a life devoted to Jesus.

I’ll never forget learning what it meant to be a martyr when I was a teenager. I knew about Stephen in the Bible, but I had no idea that people around the world were still being persecuted and even killed because of their faith in Jesus.

What I hadn’t fully considered at that age was the impact of martyrdom on those left behind. The wives who became widows, the children who lost their fathers, and the families who had to navigate life after such unimaginable loss. And yet, some of their stories reveal something just as remarkable: their continued devotion to Christ, even after losing someone they loved because of their faith in Him.

And honestly, that kind of devotion still challenges me today.

What does it look like to be fully devoted to Jesus when following Him becomes uncomfortable, inconvenient, or costly?

I’m reminded of Anna the prophetess in Luke 2:36–38.

Scripture tells us she became a widow after seven years of marriage, but it doesn’t tell us much about the circumstances surrounding her loss. What we do know is that she remained devoted to the Lord, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day at the temple.

We don’t know the full story of what Anna walked through, but we do know the devotion that marked her life.

That’s one reason I continue to make space to learn the stories of believers who have walked faithfully with Jesus through extraordinary circumstances. I’m moved not only by those who gave their lives for Christ, but also by the families who continued trusting Him through their grief.

Their testimonies remind me that devotion isn’t simply what we declare with our mouths. It’s also revealed in how we choose to live, even when life looks nothing like we expected.

As you prepare for your own time of rest this weekend, I want to invite you to do something I often find myself doing: make room to learn from the lives of believers who have gone before us and those who are faithfully following Jesus today.

​Perhaps you'll read one of their stories, spend time studying the life of Stephen in Acts 6–7, or reflect on Anna's devotion in Luke 2:36–38.

As you do, ask the Lord to reveal what wholehearted devotion looks like in your own life and where He may be inviting you to trust and obey Him more fully.

We don't need to compare our circumstances with someone else's suffering to learn from their faithfulness. We can allow their testimonies to deepen our gratitude, strengthen our convictions, and remind us of the One who is worthy of our devotion.

Because a life devoted to Jesus isn't measured only by what we're willing to die for, but also by how faithfully we're willing to live for Him.

So this Weekend in the Word, take some time to remember the cost of following Jesus, consider the example of those who have remained faithful, and ask God to strengthen your own devotion to Him.

And remember, time with God is time you will never regret spending.

In the Word with you, ​Rachel G. Scott​ Founder, Word & Seed Ministries​ Bible Student-Teacher

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