I was scanning through Facebook yesterday and I saw a report about how Christians were being systematically killed by Muslims in Nigeria. They showed a picture of a church that had been recently burned with the people still alive standing around it. Now I know that folks put all kinds of stuff on Facebook, and it needs to be confirmed. I whispered a prayer to God as I was trolling and asked that he would help me to know if that was true. Just a few moments later there was a video of a talk show host/comedian that popped up, and he is talking about why aren’t people talking about the 100,000 Christians who have been murdered since 2009 by the Islamic group Boko Haram? He went on to say “I’m not a Christian, but people need to know about this genocide and report it!” Well, I wasn’t expecting God to use this guy to bring me confirmation that this is happening…but it was good enough for me…to pray. We need to be committed to praying for those who are not just being inconvenienced or verbally confronted for their faith…but their lives are being taken in that country and elsewhere every day for their faith. On the average, over 6,000 Christians are killed for their faith every year in Nigeria. We need to stand with them and stand for them. But what about our lives? They will go to church each Sunday, knowing that it may mean death for them. And still, they go each week. How about us? What are the things that keep us from worship with the body, prayer at home and consistent reading of God’s Word? We need to do all we can, not only for them but for us. We need to not only pray faithfully…but live faithfully and to live boldly and consistently in our faith. Stand with them by being committed to what God has called you and every Christian to do as they follow this Jesus. And pray for those with whom you will stand next to in heaven. And remember they may ask you “I died for this Jesus…what did you do in your life for him?” Live well, love well and follow this Jesus faithfully this week! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Ephesians 6:18 NLT Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Remember, I’m praying for you today….
PJ
Ephesians 6:18 NLT Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Remember, I’m praying for you today….
PJ