Voices Crying

I have been thinking of the brothers and sisters whom I have never met.

People who, despite great odds, heard the good news of the Gospel, and accepted it with joy. Those who, even to the death, boldly preach the salvation of Jesus Christ to their persecutors. Their lives, and deaths, are a constant witness to the world.

Living in a country where freedom to worship is taken for granted, we can be removed from the very real martyrdom that is taking place right now…right now, in our time.

Would you take time right now…right now – to pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for the cause of Christ? Who risk their lives daily to smuggle Bibles, whisper hymns of praise in secret churches, and bravely witness to hostile neighbors?

To pray with perspective for these persecuted believers, I suggest two things:

1 – Read this passage for perspective, and rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s word, the joy set before us, and the exhortation to "strengthen [our] listless hands":

Hebrews 11:36-12:13
36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. 39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed. Context (NET)

2 – Go to the Voice of the Martyrs website.

Then, please pray. Pray for our brothers and sisters.