Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Ephesians 6:18
The Lord has put a renewed burden upon my heart in the past several days...
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Ephesians 6:18
The Lord has put a renewed burden upon my heart in the past several days...
...to pray more for my many brothers and sisters who are suffering severe persecution as they serve the Lord in other countries.
They love the Lord and have given Him their very lives. Many are now in prison. Many died there. They have lost homes, jobs, property and even loved ones because they were not ashamed to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. And He is Lord!
But what must it be like to be truly persecuted? I think about this sometimes. What is it like to live the Christian life in places where Jesus is hated and where His servants face punishment, and even death every moment?
I do not know the answers to my questions. Yes, I could read many accounts in books and magazines about my persecuted brethren. But in truth, these are only words. It is one thing to read about something. It is quite another thing to experience it firsthand.
I can read about a Chinese Christian being locked in an isolation cell with rats scurrying about at his feet. I can read about Christians in Arab nations who are publicly flogged for carrying a Bible. But have I felt their pain? No!
In America, we have such a soft and seemingly costless Christianity. It has become a polite and leisure time religion. But oh God, let me never fail to pray for these dear warrior brethren, who have risked all to follow the Holy One of Israel.
I am not putting my persecuted brothers and sisters on a pedestal. For they are only flesh and blood. I know they have their shortcomings and temptations and moments when they, too, fail the Lord. But how I admire their courage and faith. How privileged they've been to shed their blood for Jesus, to have tasted the blows of angry fists, to have known the coldness of a cell, or the fear of being discovered for having a prayer meeting in the woods.
Our brethren are great examples. I believe they are more humble than us. Their trials have caused them to know the suffering Savior more intimately than we in North America know Him right now.
They are blessed men, women, and even children. And their rewards will be great. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven…" (Matthew 5:10-12).
I am not even worthy to stand in their shoes. For I have never, absolutely never, suffered as they have. They have fellowshipped in Jesus' sufferings, and they will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
I have not suffered such. So I must at least pray for them that their faith never fails, that they will be strengthened and encouraged, and will always triumph under such trials.
May we know Jesus the way our persecuted brethren know Him.
D.B.
They love the Lord and have given Him their very lives. Many are now in prison. Many died there. They have lost homes, jobs, property and even loved ones because they were not ashamed to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. And He is Lord!
But what must it be like to be truly persecuted? I think about this sometimes. What is it like to live the Christian life in places where Jesus is hated and where His servants face punishment, and even death every moment?
I do not know the answers to my questions. Yes, I could read many accounts in books and magazines about my persecuted brethren. But in truth, these are only words. It is one thing to read about something. It is quite another thing to experience it firsthand.
I can read about a Chinese Christian being locked in an isolation cell with rats scurrying about at his feet. I can read about Christians in Arab nations who are publicly flogged for carrying a Bible. But have I felt their pain? No!
In America, we have such a soft and seemingly costless Christianity. It has become a polite and leisure time religion. But oh God, let me never fail to pray for these dear warrior brethren, who have risked all to follow the Holy One of Israel.
I am not putting my persecuted brothers and sisters on a pedestal. For they are only flesh and blood. I know they have their shortcomings and temptations and moments when they, too, fail the Lord. But how I admire their courage and faith. How privileged they've been to shed their blood for Jesus, to have tasted the blows of angry fists, to have known the coldness of a cell, or the fear of being discovered for having a prayer meeting in the woods.
Our brethren are great examples. I believe they are more humble than us. Their trials have caused them to know the suffering Savior more intimately than we in North America know Him right now.
They are blessed men, women, and even children. And their rewards will be great. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven…" (Matthew 5:10-12).
I am not even worthy to stand in their shoes. For I have never, absolutely never, suffered as they have. They have fellowshipped in Jesus' sufferings, and they will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
I have not suffered such. So I must at least pray for them that their faith never fails, that they will be strengthened and encouraged, and will always triumph under such trials.
May we know Jesus the way our persecuted brethren know Him.
D.B.