As I write this devo in the quietness of my home, next to the twinkling of the Christmas tree lights, my children safely tucked into bed, after doing our nightly bible study, prayers, and songs…reading this passage of scripture feels surreal—as it should for you. Most of you, whoever may be reading, are probably doing something similar as you read this devotional. You might be reading this, hopefully with your Bible opened up, sitting with a morning cup of coffee in the quietness of your home. Others, may be reading from a lunch break, from an all-consuming work day, trying to have some alone time to refresh your mind before your quick lunch break is up. Where ever you may find yourself…..take a minute, and say a quick prayer of thanks to God, who has richly blessed you with a job that pays the mortgage and a warm and cozy home with presents under the tree….
Now, brace yourself, because these stats I am about to throw at you, will be a gut punch!
According to Open Doors, in their 2024 World Watch List, which conducts research of Christian persecution, reported:
GUT PUNCH. THROAT PUNCH. ALL THE PUNCHES.
While we live in the beautiful freedom of the United States, we often forget about our brothers and sisters overseas who pay the price to be a Christian. Being a Christian here in America, right now, costs us very little….maybe some weird looks, maybe some hard conversations with people who disagree, occasionally losing the closeness of friends or family….I don’t hear about many Christians being killed in America for their faith, or losing their homes, or being imprisoned, or any thing close to what you just read in that list of stats. DO YOU REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE?!?! I don’t want to downplay how difficult navigating Christianity can be for us, to some degree, in America, but our brothers and sisters in other countries, they are looking evil in the face while being tormented, raped, abused, and STILL THEY CHOOSE JESUS!!!!
It is easy for us to not think of the cost of being a Christian, we don’t have that much opposition here. We can go a whole day without even the thought of it—like it isn’t all that real to us. In the scripture you read with this devotional, John the Baptist is one of MILLIONS of people who have died for being a follower. It is sobering to think about. However, we have be warned of this, read Matthew 5:10-12 & 16-18, 2 Timothy 3:11-12, John 15:19-20, those are just a few references warning us.
It might be hard to switch your brain now, because I don’t want to leave you feeling totally down and depressed, but I want to show you the beauty in all of this. In almost every reference of persecution in scripture, we are given words of comfort. Christ is with us. Christ is for us. He will use all of the persecution in the world for OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY! We are told to persevere, to run the race, to fight the good fight of faith, to press on, to endure…. The cost for being a Christian is high, we may not see it now, but when we open our eyes to what is happening in the world, it puts in into perspective. Maybe one day here in America it could look a lot different here for Christians, who knows? The point of all of this, is to open your eyes right now! Let’s take immediate action!
Pray again. This time pray for our fellow Christians who are suffering persecution. Pray for the missionaries God has called into these areas to fearlessly preach the Gospel. Pray for us in America to open our eyes and to stand for Christ even when it’s scary. Thank God again for all he is blessed you with. Now, be bold, be courageous, and shine a light where God has you, for such a time as this.
“Research Worldwide 13 Christians a Day Killed for Their Faith.” Open Doors , 30 Jan. 2024, www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/13-christians-killed-day-average/.
Now, brace yourself, because these stats I am about to throw at you, will be a gut punch!
According to Open Doors, in their 2024 World Watch List, which conducts research of Christian persecution, reported:
- 4,125 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned
- 3,906 believers were abducted
- More than 3,200 Christians were raped, sexually harassed or forced to marry non-Christians
- 42,849 followers of Jesus were physically or mentally abused
- And nearly 300,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes, go into hiding or flee their country of origin
- More than 14,000 churches, Christian schools, hospitals and other buildings were targeted
- On average, more than 13 Christians were killed each day for their faith. That means almost every two hours, a believer is killed.
GUT PUNCH. THROAT PUNCH. ALL THE PUNCHES.
While we live in the beautiful freedom of the United States, we often forget about our brothers and sisters overseas who pay the price to be a Christian. Being a Christian here in America, right now, costs us very little….maybe some weird looks, maybe some hard conversations with people who disagree, occasionally losing the closeness of friends or family….I don’t hear about many Christians being killed in America for their faith, or losing their homes, or being imprisoned, or any thing close to what you just read in that list of stats. DO YOU REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE?!?! I don’t want to downplay how difficult navigating Christianity can be for us, to some degree, in America, but our brothers and sisters in other countries, they are looking evil in the face while being tormented, raped, abused, and STILL THEY CHOOSE JESUS!!!!
It is easy for us to not think of the cost of being a Christian, we don’t have that much opposition here. We can go a whole day without even the thought of it—like it isn’t all that real to us. In the scripture you read with this devotional, John the Baptist is one of MILLIONS of people who have died for being a follower. It is sobering to think about. However, we have be warned of this, read Matthew 5:10-12 & 16-18, 2 Timothy 3:11-12, John 15:19-20, those are just a few references warning us.
It might be hard to switch your brain now, because I don’t want to leave you feeling totally down and depressed, but I want to show you the beauty in all of this. In almost every reference of persecution in scripture, we are given words of comfort. Christ is with us. Christ is for us. He will use all of the persecution in the world for OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY! We are told to persevere, to run the race, to fight the good fight of faith, to press on, to endure…. The cost for being a Christian is high, we may not see it now, but when we open our eyes to what is happening in the world, it puts in into perspective. Maybe one day here in America it could look a lot different here for Christians, who knows? The point of all of this, is to open your eyes right now! Let’s take immediate action!
Pray again. This time pray for our fellow Christians who are suffering persecution. Pray for the missionaries God has called into these areas to fearlessly preach the Gospel. Pray for us in America to open our eyes and to stand for Christ even when it’s scary. Thank God again for all he is blessed you with. Now, be bold, be courageous, and shine a light where God has you, for such a time as this.
“Research Worldwide 13 Christians a Day Killed for Their Faith.” Open Doors , 30 Jan. 2024, www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/13-christians-killed-day-average/.