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Dirk Willems (died 16 May 1569) was a martyred Anabaptist who is most famous for, after his escape from prison, turning around to rescue his pursuer, who had fallen through thin ice while chasing him. Willems was born in Asperen, Gelderland, Netherlands, and was rebaptized as a young man, thus rejecting the infant baptism practiced at that time by both Catholics and established Protestants in the Netherlands. This action, plus his continued devotion to his new faith and the rebaptism of several other people in his home, led to his condemnation by the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands and subsequent arrest. After his escape and recapture upon turning back to save the life of his pursuer, he was burned at the stake near his hometown on 16 May 1569. Today, he is one of the most celebrated martyrs among Anabaptists, which includes Mennonites, Brethren, and Amish, as well as becoming a folk hero amongst modern residents of Asperen. An historical drama based on his life—Dirk's Exodus—was written in 1990 by James C. Juhnke. What have we done for Christ today? This is a challenge we may all ask our self. Perhaps the hardest thing to do (for myself) is to surrender all to the Lord. What I mean is to take every thought captive to The Lord Jesus. (II Cor 10:5) To surrender one's self will to do the will of our Creator is often easy however sometimes poses the most challenging job that we have to do. What would we do if no one were looking tells a tale about our self that we should take seriously. When we read of Willems and others who were martyred for living Christian lives we may have to one day lay down our life for our beliefs. If Christ died for our sins is death too great a cost? I believe "...for me to live is Christ, to die is gain..." Philippians 1:21 What can you and I do for Christ? Apart from living our lives in obedience to the Lord and taking every thought captive to The Lord Jesus we must Love our neighbor as our self. Who is our neighbor; Jesus taught in the Bible that all men are our neighbors. In closing... (more text here) Feel free to write me and we can add more good writings here.
Luke 10:25-39 (King James Version) The good Samaritan
25And, behold, a certain
lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?
26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
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