John 1:11
We enjoy spending the holidays with family. Imagine however, that you came home for the holidays only to find out you’re no longer welcomed into your home…not ever again. Can you imagine being disowned by your family? Thousands of persecuted Christians will face this reality this Christmas, and have no place to call home.
In countries saturated in Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist customs, it is considered shameful to become a Christian. Iraqi Christians face the everyday threat of losing their life for the sake of Christ. As ISIS tears through Iraq, they are killing Christians who refuse to convert to Islam.
Jesus himself was rejected by his own people. For Jesus, ‘his own did not receive him’, and cast Him as an outcast in the world around Him. Fortunately, Jesus is God’s own Son…His family is found in God’s kingdom, with God’s people. In the atmosphere of certain death, he was all alone, and yet, He knew that the Father would be with Him in every trial he faced.
We may not be able to send missionaries to persecuted nations. But we can send gifts of grace to the persecuted in the form of prayer. Go online, and look up the persecuted church. Then, commit to pray for persecuted Christians over the next 3-4 days. Whether it’s persecuted Christians in China, underground missionaries serving in Muslim countries, or Christians fleeing martyrdom in Iraq, ask God to give you a heart of compassion for the persecuted church. Your prayers are a gift of grace for the hopeless.
Jason Marshall