Persecution

"And when He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples, He said to them, 'If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me."

Mark 8:34

Dimitry Shestokov is spending his 12th year in jail. Why? Because he is the pastor of a Christian church in Uzbekistan. Y Wo Ni and his family are struggling financially and dealing with major health issues due to lack of treatment in jail. Why? Because Y Wo Ni dared to stand up in defense of religious freedom in Vietnam. Evangelist Ambaye is in prison for the 8th time in 12 years. Why? Because he witnessed to someone at public bus stop in Eritrea. These believers, along with millions of others understand what it means to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus.


Persecution is a reality in most of the world. Owning a Bible could put a death warrant on one's head. Going to church may cause your house to be burned and your children to be taken away. Telling someone about Jesus can get you arrested and tortured. These believers know the cost of discipleship, and they are willing to pay it.

When I look at the devotion of my brothers and sisters in hostile and restricted nations, I am ashamed of the way that I, and other American Christians, pussy-foot around the issues of our day. 3000 children are brutally murdered every day in the name of choice, and we don't say a word. God is ripped out of our schools and government; we give in without a fight. Immorality is glorified in our entertainment and we pay to see it. Christ is defamed and mocked in all areas of our society and we shake our heads, heave a deep sigh and move on with our lives. What can we do? It's the sign of our times. Believers around the world daily put their lives on the line for the sake of the gospel and in America we're afraid to say 'Merry Christmas' for fear we'll offend someone and be labeled 'intolerant.' Where is our faith? Where is our devotion? Where is our passion?

Christianity is so much more than spewing out a spoon fed prayer while every body's head is down and eyes are closed. It's more than church on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. It's daily dying to ourselves and living for Christ, regardless of the cost.

"Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:27) It is time the church stopped idolizing those suffering for the faith and started taking an example from them. We deny Christ by our silence and we mock Him by our complacency. Those who have gone before us know the true cost of following Jesus. It is time that we started counting that cost too.

Application: Today I will spend 15 minutes praying for my brothers and sisters around the world, for their protection and their boldness as witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.