witnesses for Christ, the reminder of some who have already died for the faith and others who may yet give their lives for the faith, all serve to remind us of the cost of true discipleship. To what extent does our ‘first love’ for Jesus drive us forward as individuals or as a gathered church community? Are we prepared to let our ‘lamp’ shine in witness for Christ to the extent that we may find ourselves persecuted? Secondly, compromise with our society is unacceptable. These letters have also drawn