Pray for the Persecuted Church
Today’s Text: Hebrews 13:3
SUNDAY MEDITATION

The need to pray for beleaguered brothers and sisters in Christ is apparent when we grasp that the majority of Christians are ignorant of the persecution fellow believers are enduring for the cause of Christ.

HEBREWS 13:3
“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

In the text, we are plainly admonished to remember Christians suffering persecution as if physically chained with them (v. 3). Yet, at a conference a few years ago, the director of a Christian organization bluntly confided to me that, “talking about the persecuted church is a bit of a downer for me. I just don’t want to hear about it. And, I don’t think Christians want to hear about it.”

Do we need to remind ourselves that for no other reason, Christians should stand as a voice of solidarity with the persecuted church because they are brothers and sisters in Christ?

Amazingly, the faith community in the Western world seems blindly unaware and woefully unaffected by the 21st century persecution of fellow Christians, who have endured unspeakable torture, crucifixion and beheading. Churches have been burned to the ground. Entire Christian villages were massacred and hundreds of young women taken captive as sex slaves. The facts are there for any willing to take the time to investigate.

People of faith must recognize that the threat of persecution that millions of Christians face is a 24/7 reality. Don’t let today pass without making a commitment to daily pray for the persecuted church. The apostle Paul reminds, “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it  . . .” (1 Cor. 12:26).

IMAGE:
1) Grace. By Eric Enstrom [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios.

Copyright © 2016 Charles E. McCracken, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author via contact form.  Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Rev. McCracken is known for authenticity in communicating biblical truth that makes his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

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