For Those who Suffer in the Faith

Many believers live their faith dangerously. Their communities are filled with people who hate them because of Jesus Christ. They are harassed and their children are bullied without justice from the authorities. Yet, they refuse to deny Christ and take on persecution as a part of their Christian journey. While they hold on to the faith, they also struggle at times because of the constant pressure to cave in and be like everyone else.

Yet, the Lord is with them. He is the light of their path in the darkest parts of this world. The Holy Spirit refreshes and restores their spirits when they are down and hard pressed. He soothes them with comforting words of faith from scripture so that they don’t give up hope. Many of the faithful will surrender their lives before they will ever deny Christ.

Their faithfulness in the midst of extreme cruelty and injustice serves as a reminder to other believers around the world to pray for them. We are to do everything in our ability to support them not only in prayer—but to provide for their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. We follow the Macedonian’s example for Corinthians:

“For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4)

Let us follow in the legacy of the early church to support as much as possible our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering persecution.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to see the need of the persecuted church. Show me how to pray and give so that they will be strengthened in their time of testing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Service,

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