Christians have many people to look up to and respect, but martyrs are rarely recognized as exemplary role models. After all, who wants to grow up and get killed for something they believe in even if it's true. Unfortunately, what most people fail to recognize is the reality of what our brothers and sisters in Christ have faced while suffering persecution. Indeed, the martyrs died otherwise they would not have been called martyrs, but as Philippians 1:21 says "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Imagine if we indolent, complacent, Americanized Christians said sincerely as Paul does in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Of course it can be very easy to forget the martyrs and the trials and temptations they faced if we focus only on those Christians who are still alive (though many are noteworthy), or have written good works or done great things for the kingdom of God. The martyrs must not be forgotten even for t...