Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10).
Christians experiencing persecution… with the threat of imminent death… have a better and deeper appreciation for the Gospel and for salvation than we who are not. Have you noticed Christians in persecuted lands, when they are given their very first Bible, they hold it as something incredibly precious, holding it to their breast in floods of tears. While we, here in the West, are too busy to read our many Bibles, or we just can’t be bothered, claiming we can’t understand it anyway. We stay safe and sound in our comfortable homes, sitting on our comfortable pews and in air-conditioned buildings, while our brothers and sisters are being murdered and mistreated for the sake of the Gospel.
But how often do we forget that this blessing comes with a cost? While we sit in padded chairs and sip lattes after service, our brothers and sisters in Christ are worshiping in whispers… Standing in locked rooms with the curtains closed, and no light because of fear… They’re hiding in caves or in damp, dark cellars… Or sitting in prison cells, for those who have been caught
Some are burying their children. Others are preparing to die themselves. They are not statistics… They are part of our family—the body of Christ. And when one part suffers, the whole body should feel it (1 Corinthians 12:26). So, I ask you will you remember them? Will you weep for them? Will you pray for them? Will you let their courage ignite your own courage?
Because the persecuted church is not just surviving—they are shining, they are thriving. And their tears and their blood water the soil of revival. Let us not forget the ones who carry the cross in silence… and in chains, scarcely known to the world. Let us lift them up before the throne of grace, where their cries are heard, and their reward is sure.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Please Remember Them.