Born into a large, high achieving family, he was a highly intelligent and driven young man. It was a disappointment for his family, then, when a young Dietrich announced his intention to become a priest.

Yet in an early demonstration of the resolve which would characterise the rest of his life, Bonhoeffer would not be swayed and began pursuing his chosen path.

By 1931 Bonhoeffer was lecturing in Theology at the University of Berlin. However Hitler's rise to power in 1933 made life hard for men like Bonhoeffer as the Nazis tried to silence any voice which spoke against their policies.

The German churches were among those institutions targeted and Bonhoeffer found himself under pressure to tow the Nazi line. His response to this pressure was to join with other Christian leaders in establishing the "Confessing Church" in 1934.

This Church very publicly stated their intention to stand firm in obedience to the Bible over and against any human authority, including the Nazi government.

Of course this came with great personal cost to Bonhoeffer. He lost his job at the University of Berlin and was banned from teaching publicly. Bonhoeffer established an 'underground' seminary to train Confessing Church ministers, however, this was discovered and quickly closed down. As a result, even many within the Confessing Church were reluctant to speak publicly against Hitler.

At this time Bonhoeffer himself was invited to America to be a guest lecturer at a prominent Seminary and was even offered a permanent role there. We may naturally assume that he was relieved to be offered an escape from the dangers which faced him in Germany. Yet Bonhoeffer turned down the offer. In a letter to a friend at that time he tells us why.

"I have made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the Christian people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people."

Bonhoeffer returned to Germany where he threw himself far more fully into the resistance efforts against Hitler. He joined the German Secret Service as a double agent.

He was sent around Europe to speak at Christian conferences, all the while tasked with gathering important information on the town which he visited.

Instead he used his travel and position to help Jews escape the oppression of the Nazi party. Eventually his role in this resistance was discovered and in April 1943 he was arrested.

On April 9, 1945, at just 39 years of age and only one month before Germany surrendered, he was hanged with six other resisters. During his imprisonment Bonhoeffer gave us a glimpse into the mindset which would guide this life's journey.

"God lets himself be pushed out of the world on to the cross... He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way... in which he is with us and helps us."

Driven by this simple conviction, Dietrich Bonhoeffer would resolutely shun a life of ease and comfort. He would instead embrace trial and hardship.

He would place himself alongside those who were most in danger from the threat of Hitler's evil policies. Joining them in trials that were not his own so that he might help them. In all of this he was doing only what his Lord had done for him.

His is an example which we would do well to remember.