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I have a special name for those who, despite the pressures against them from those on the outside, and their opposing desires on the inside, push through to serve Love even to the death of the life they want to live each day . . . these I call “My martyrs.” MATTHEW 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Romans 5:8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Revelation 6:9, 11 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. Revelations 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 1 Corinthians 13:3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED Psalm 116:13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD.