Please excuse me for missing a month’s blog post, as I have been attempting to continually blog at least once per month. However, as I contemplated the horrific news that has been spreading across the world, I could not continue with my normal blog post last month or this month either. I knew I must pause and pray.
This blog entry was difficult to express, but I hope it will bring you comfort in the face of evil.
I am dedicating this blog in memory of every Christian everywhere who has ever been under persecution or is under persecution right now, and to every Christian everywhere who has ever died for their faith.
The most recent shocking news of the children who have been murdered for simply being Christians is appalling. The methods of those pursuing the Christians are so savage and so wicked that we can’t help but be in shock, to say the least.
Please pause with me in memory of all persecuted Christians everywhere, particularly those who have lost their children to death.
Now, let’s not forget the brutal death that Jesus Christ endured to save each of us. Yet, we can also rejoice in His victory over death through His resurrection.
If we are not aware of this Bible scripture, we need to be now. God’s Word tells us that “… we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:2)
Our enemy is “… The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2)
The "children of disobedience" are those who have been taught from a very young age to persecute and murder those who follow Jesus Christ and the Jewish people. Yes, these children are now adult enemies of God, and some probably not yet adults. They believe they are doing this for their god, but their god is certainly not our God.
Although our God does allow evil to exist, even to the extent of these brutal murders of Christians around the world, please don’t let this turn you away from God. For God has warned us that:
“… The time will come when whoever kills you
will think that he is doing God a service.” (John 16:2) – Although the
first part of this scripture (that I did not cite here) also includes that people
will be put out of their synagogues, in reference to the Jewish people, as with
most scriptures, I believe this also
applies to the Christians.
The Bible
also reveals to us that there will be the “... souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast.” (Revelation 20:4)
We need to
know that all Christians who have gained salvation may have lost their lives here
on earth, but now they have gained eternal life with God in His amazing peace
and love.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation
21:4)
Now,
may we have some comfort in knowing this.
We
must pray for the persecuted Christians who are yet alive, particularly refugees
who have lost everything. Please pray for them to find their strength and
comfort through God.
For we need
to know: “Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or [the] sword?”
(Romans 8:35)
“As it is written: ‘For Your sake [God’s] we are killed all day long; we are accounted
as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things
to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:36-39)
Until
we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.
God’s Word
for Today: “Yes, and everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
(2 Titus 2:12)
Copyright
© 2014 by Patricia Shehan
All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics and quotation marks.
All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics and quotation marks.
