Line Upon Line

There's been a lot of discussion in the past few months about persecution of Christians in the United States, and attacks on the truths and values we hold dear.

The Alabama Ten Commandments monument case, and the California Pledge of Allegiance ban are two incidents which have made headlines recently. And of course, there's the annual 'you can't pray before the high school football game, or if you do, you are forbidden to mention the name of Jesus in your prayer' and Christmas nativity display controversies.

Now, I'm not diminishing the significance of these attacks, but these things pale in comparison to the things endured by some of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.

In China, North Korea, Vietnam, India, and other places, Christians are subject to imprisonment and torture, having their children taken from them and placed in state custody, and in an increasing number of cases, being put to death. Church buildings have been burned and bulldozed down, and believers are increasingly threatened and harassed if they meet together publicly to worship the Lord.

Today, Sunday, November 9, 2003 has been designated as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It serves as a reminder of the suffering that is inflicted on believers throughout the world.

Here's an excellent article, by Kristin Wright, 'Standing with the Persecuted Church', that will help you get a better perspective on persecution. Kristen also includes links to websites that provide important information on the persecuted church.

Let's join our hearts together today -- and everyday -- and pray for those who are being persecuted for the name and cause of Christ. May God's grace be their strength and may His Word cause them to hope, in Jesus' name.

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think on these things...

And Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property -- with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life."
-- Mark 10:29,30 (NLT)

Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.

Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.
-- Hebrews 10:32-39 (NLT)

What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-- Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
-- Matthew 5:10-12(NKJV)