Pastors being arrested for simply preaching the G-spel in a ch-rch.
People being kidnapped and never being seen again.
Sharing the truth to those under a certain age being illegal.
People sitting in prison cells for no other reason other than their belief in J-sus.
Being super careful about your language in order to remain safe.
This list could go on. Yet the list would be incomplete if I simply left it at that. I have also heard amazing conversion stories...
Conversion through dreams.
Conversion through simply reading.
Conversion at the sake of being beaten by your own family.
Conversion at the sake of becoming "dead" to your own family.
Conversion with the possibility of death.
Conversion because the truth is greater than any persecution one might face.
Any rejection than one might experience
Any physical pain that could be inflicted
And because the truth is greater than death
...and in this region of the world, if one believes, it is with these things in mind that truth is received.
I can't help but wonder that if all of these were factors in claiming J-sus, how this would reveal the truth within the hearts of many around the "easier" parts of the world (when it comes to freedoms, that is).
This morning I was reading in Galatians 1 and couldn't help be moved by Paul's writing,
"For I would have you know brothers, that the g-spel that was preached by me is not mans g-spel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received through a revelation of J-sus Chr-st. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the ch-rch of G-d violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who has set me apart before I was born, and wih called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles...(vs 23) They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified G-d because of me.
Paul persecuted.
He believed.
He preached.
He was persecuted.
He preached.
And was persecuted.
He still preached.
What if we all began to fervently pr-y for oppressive leaders, the greatest persecutors of the G-spel, to believe.
Everyday.
We commit to that pr-yer.
What if thousands committed to that pr-yer. All around the world.
Paul, a man who once was the greatest persecutor of Chr-st followers, became one of the greatest men used to advance the G-spel by G-d.
So let's do it. Pick an oppressed country. Pick an oppressive leader. And pr-y them to bodly proclaim Chr-st.
Ask your friends to do the same.
