ODB: the persecuted church
November 8, 2009
READ: 1 Peter 4:12-19
If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. —1 Peter 4:16
One October morning in 2006, a woman and her six children were forced to witness an attack on their husband and father. His assailants tried to force him to deny Jesus but he refused. He continued to proclaim Christ as Lord and died praying for his family. The family is determined to follow Christ, even in their grief.
Another man was sentenced to 3 years in prison for allegedly insulting another religion. He’s an outspoken Christian with a passion for Christ. He and his wife and children continue to be faithful and refuse to deny Him.
Persecution for the Christian faith is as real in our world as it was for the Jewish believers in the early church to whom Peter wrote. He prayed, “May the God of all grace, . . . after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. These prayer points from Open Doors USA, a ministry that’s committed to encouraging persecuted Christians, can help guide us as we pray:
• Pray for the safety and faith of the secret believers in countries where it is illegal to share about Christ.
• Pray for the health, perseverance, and encouragement of believers who are imprisoned for the gospel.
• Pray that those whose loved ones have died due to martyrdom will rely on God for their strength.
Together, let’s bring our fellow believers before the Lord in prayer. — Anne Cetas
The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. —Tertullian
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Loading ...ODJ: a persecuted people
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
READ: John 15:17-23
This news item appeared in the Lausanne World Pulse: “While officiating at a wedding on June 3, 2006, Pastor Hasim received a text message on his cell phone: ‘Pastor, you will die today.’ The 47-year old Filipino pastor had been receiving death threats for months. After the wedding, he and his daughter Mercilyn headed home by motorcycle. Their bodies were later found in an isolated area. Pastor Hasim had been shot 19 times, mostly in the back. Mercilyn was shot 5 times.”
This is just one recent story from the persecuted church. There are many more. In fact, more than 200 million of them. That’s the number of Christians across the world who are facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
As believers in Jesus, we’re called to be salt to a decaying and decadent world, and light to a darkened and dangerous one (Matthew 5:13-14). Christ warned us that we would suffer persecution. He said, “A slave is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you” (John 15:20). Millions will suffer for the name of Jesus (Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 2:21, 4:12-16). And indeed, thousands have already been martyred (Hebrews 11:36-37).
Many ODJ readers likely reside in countries where persecution isn’t much of a problem. That’s something to thank God for! Yet, in more than 50 countries around the globe, Christians are being severely persecuted.
One way we can support them is through prayer. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a global event that brings together thousands of churches for a 24-hour time of intercession. It’s an opportunity to lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters in our personal prayers, as well as in various church meetings. Let’s stand with those who are suffering for the cause of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:26). —K.T. Sim
How are you or those you know facing persecution for your faith? What should be our response to the suffering of brothers and sisters in Jesus?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
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