2 Thessalonians 1:4 (New International Version)
4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
2 Timothy 2:12 (New International Version)
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
Martyr - A Witness
There is a segment of the Christian community that we must not forget: the persecuted church. This week’s lesson, like last week’s, makes the point that the church at Thessalonica was suffering tremendous persecution. Pressure from the society around them to blend in. To fit in. Paul’s letter of encouragement includes the fact that he boasted about their faith to other churches. He was letting them know that they were not alone. The fact that this lesson is virtually a repeat of last week’s lesson speaks to me. There are Christian communities world wide that suffer dire persecution. Additionally, because of the limited access those churches have to the rest of the world, they don’t always have the benefit of encouragement from churches here in the west. I’m not speaking of poor churches in third world countries (or here in the US) that suffer primarily because of their poverty (they need our help too!). I’m speaking of churches that suffer because of persecution from their governments or their communities. Two points: 1. They deserve our fervent prayers and support. They are us. 2. They are worthy of our admiration. They persist in the face of persecution. Let us not turn a ‘blind eye’ or a ‘deaf ear’ to their plight. After all, If we endure ‘with’ them, we will ‘reign’ with them together with Jesus in Glory! Check out the link below in your private time. There are many who suffer greatly for the name of our Lord.
Blessings,
.wb
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/
Note: There is actually a ‘Day of International Prayer for the Persecuted Church’ every year. This year, I think it falls on November 14th (normally, the 2nd Sunday in November every year)
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