Mathew 24:9 ‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.’
DAILY READING – Acts 5:1-16; Deuteronomy 23-24; Job 15
On February 15, 2015 a gruesome video was released showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by Islamic fanatics in Libya. As they were being executed, cries of “O Jesus” could be heard in the background. The video shocked the world, but it was also a wakeup call for the church. .
It can be easy to forget the blood and the price paid through the ages, by Christ and martyrs.. In our comfortable pews, and fun fare activities, the cry of the blood can seem farfetched. But the truth remains that as Christians we are in a warfare and not fanfare. And even today, in parts of the world Christians are still shedding their blood for the sake of the Gospel. In many countries the Gospel is being suppressed and repressed. North Korea is the most repressive nation in the world.. This country has detained more political and religious prisoners than any other country. The Christian persecution watchers, ‘Open Doors’, estimates that hundreds of Christians have been killed there, while tens of thousands are currently suffering in the prison camps where they face cruel abuses, torture and death. Saudi Arabia holds the second spot on the list of persecuting countries. Religious freedom does not exist in Saudi Arabia where citizens are allowed to adhere to the islamic religion. Apostasy, conversion to another religion, is punishable by death. Other repressive countries include, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos, China etc Many Christian Churches in Nigeria have been victims of bomb attacks in the escalating campaign of Boko Haram. Attacks against Christians continue to be reported in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations. The Coptic Church in Egypt is dwindling in numbers, systematically under these attacks.
In countries like Russia the door is fast shutting against the preaching of the Gospel. Under Russia’s set of surveillance and anti-terrorism laws, Christians there cannot even email their friends an invitation to church or evangelize in their own homes. This law places broad limitations on missionary work, including preaching, teaching, and engaging in any activity designed to recruit people into God’s kingdom.
All these are part of the persecutions Jesus warned us would characterize the end-time. And it should be a wakeup call and a warning to us that there really is not much time left. We just have a narrow window of opportunity to fulfill the great commission before every door, finally shuts permanently. Let us not therefore squander the grace available to us at this hour. Let us do all we should, while we still can, to preach the Word of life to a dying world.
In Mark 16, Jesus commanded us to go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. It is not an option, it is a commandment. It means we are mandated to preach to every one we can while we can. Let us begin to take the great the commission seriously. Let us by the help of The Spirit device ways and means to reach family members, neighbors, friends, colleagues with the Gospel. If people are dying in other countries for the sake of the Gospel, what price are we really paying? Let us therefore not hoard the Word of God but share it with everyone we can. Jesus spent His days going from place to place sharing The Word and so should we now with every available voice.
PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to obey the great commission, let me not hoard the truth I know from the dying world around me, Grant me the boldness to preach Your Word to all that You bring my way today in Jesus Name.
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God has made salvation available to all, but not all have received it..
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED BY THE WORD ]