Luke 22:46 ‘And He said unto them, “Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

DAILY READING; Acts 11:1-18; Joshua 11-12; Job 26

The festive period that accompanies the end of year is meant to be a time of good cheer, relaxation and celebration. However, in some countries where Christians are persecuted, it can be a season of spike in violence and hate crimes.

In 2020, Christian News outlets reported the story of a Christian in Egypt named Nashaat, who was killed over a very trivial matter involving Christmas purchases.
It all started when Nashaat’s daughter, Maresta and his sister in law, Maryam went on Christmas shopping and purchased shoes. When they later found a defect in one of the shoes, it was not supposed to be a big problem as such shoes could be returned and replaced with new ones.
However, when Maresta and Maryam returned the shoes, the merchant identified them as Christians due to tattoos of the Cross on their wrists. He threw back the shoes and shouted that as a Moslem he would not trade with Christians.
Surprised, Maryam tried to explain, but the merchant began to rage and pulled her hair so she hit her head against the wall. Then he punched Maresta and shouted obscenities at them for being Christians.
Maryam and Maresta left the store in great shock. At that moment, Nashaat happened to call Maryam and heard her crying. After hearing what had just happened to them in the shop, Nashaat promised to come to the scene immediately. When Nashaat arrived and tried to speak calmly to the store owner about beating his daughter, the merchant acknowledged it and added, “And there is nothing you can do about it, Christian!”
Other radicals in and around the shop, surrounded Nashaat and started beating him with metal pipes and pulled out knives and stabbed him to death, as they shouted, “Gentiles, false believers!”
Although later four men were arrested and charged, only the merchant was punished with seven years in prison. But he never served any time in prison, rather he simply sold his store and moved to another town.

It is a sad but true fact that we live in a world, where Christians face persecutions and glaring injustice.
Remarkably, even Jesus our Lord faced persecutions and attempts against His life right from birth. When He was born in Bethlehem, Herod made every attempt to kill him. The baby had done nothing wrong yet Herod killed thousands of children while pursuing after Him. It was only by divine guidance that Joseph and Mary were able to flee with their baby and escape Herod’s murder squad.
Jesus foresaw the persecution that believers would continue to face, this was why after he left the earth, He sent to us the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to always overcome.
The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to triumph over the many persecutions that come against them. Through the power of the Holy Spirit they became an impossible case for the Jewish opposition to handle, despite the several efforts to crush the preaching of the Gospel.
Today, we need the Holy Spirit’s power to be victorious over the many trials that come against us for our faith.
Aside the physical dangers, everyday believers face spiritual persecutions and attacks from the enemy and his agents. Even in the midst of the festivities of this period, while Christians are celebrating, there are agents of wickedness who would busy themselves, seeking for ways to cause sorrow.
This is why we must always be sober and spiritually vigilant. Indeed, one of the ways we prepare for the coming year is to develop spiritual sensitivity to the leadings of the Spirit because we are at a stage and in an age where no believer can afford to live carelessly or take things for granted.
With few days left to the end of the year, let us brace ourselves to begin seeking God like never before. Let us study the Word and spend quality time in prayer and worship.
As we pray, the Holy Spirit will lead us out of the temptations of the enemy and make every crooked path straight before us.
Also, let us take time to count our blessings and thank the Lord for all He has done for us this year. Surely, God has been faithful and it is only by His mercies that we have been preserved.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the grace to begin to seek You fervently. Surely, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I will overcome every temptation and stand victorious over every opposition in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
The study of The Word will keep shame and disgrace far from you. WORDBITE 222