Today the Church remembers the 16th century English martyr Robert Barnes burned at the stake for the sake of the Gospel and unfortunate political motives. A friend of Martin Luther and convert to Lutheranism persecuted for his stand on Justification by Faith and his lack of support for King Henry VIII’s divorce.
You can listen and learn more about Robert Barnes HERE.
On this day I’m reminded to pray for pastors who suffer religious and political persecution in our own country.
“Preserve your Word and preaching.
The truth that makes us whole,
The mirror of your glory,
The power that saves the soul.
Oh, may this living water,
This dew of heavenly grace,
Sustain us while here living
Until we see your face.”
Preserve your Word, O Savior LSB 658
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5: 11-12
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” I Peter 5:6-7
