They, meaning the suffering church.
The persecuted church.
The church in pain.
We, meaning the western church.
The comfortable church.
The prosperous church.
Are they really different from us, or is it only that there is a government in place that hates Jesus more than ours does? Or does it mean that we don't speak up and speak out enough for Jesus? Do we speak the whole truth about Christ or are we afraid of political correctness? Consider the relatively recent stories of the following brothers and sisters (these are current stories.
) Perhaps in the reading, God will convict us of work we are not doing, or at least make us grateful to belong to such a wonderful family of people.
In CHINA, a pastor serves a 3-year prison sentence in a labor camp.
His wife has just been released, and now fearfully cares for their son.
The pastor's church has been raided during a worship service.
In PAKISTAN, two evangelists working with Muslim converts are attacked by the Taliban.
One is shot and killed instantly.
Threats to the other.
Two Muslims wounded, one escapes.
In INDIA a law has been passed in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Under it, anyone forcibly converting someone can be imprisoned up to two years.
In this state of six million, only eight thousand are Christian.
Using this law, Hindus beat three Christian brothers, giving them internal injuries.
In LAOS, 12 pastors are arrested after meetings.
One of them is being denied visitors.
And so on and on the cross of Christ is carried .
How we appreciate those who take upon them the very character of Christ.
May God give us grace to die with them and with Him.