Yesterday I read an article on Christians being persecuted in other countries. Again, I had to give thanks to God for being in Canada. I sat and pondered on my own faith, if I were placed in a position where I was tortured, imprisoned, my family threatened, my life ....would I be strong enough to stand and die for my faith?
I only hope that I will never have to go through anything like that.
Think about it, we have so much, we are soft, often paying only lip service to our Lord; yet he took the cross for us. Do we play at being Christians? How much do we actually sacrifice? Do we do the things we are told to do?
I came across an account of what the physical body goes through in a crucifixion. The only thing I didn't see mentioned on that page was his crown of thorns. They weren't the little ones we see in pictures. The thorns used were about 6 inches long and very sharp. When placed on his head, it would have caused piercing into his head and his brain and head would have been so swollen he would have been unrecognizable. It says in Is. 52 that his visage was more marred than any man.
Reading on, I also saw the mighty hand of God on these Christians that have faced so much. A man in Nigeria, attacked and his Bible (something else we take much for granted) was destroyed. With no money to buy another, he cried out his need to God. A few weeks later some missionaries arrived and started handing out Bibles, he fell to his knees and wept for this answer to his prayers.
In Vietnam, a couple reunited after 7 years, the husband imprisoned for standing up for his belief in God, forced to work hard grueling labor just to be able to eat. His wife eking out a living and standing in prayer for him. When asked if they would stand again for their beliefs knowing they would be separated again, they answered "YES"! A joyful answer to prayers for reuniting.
I think of us, sometimes we make our prayer requests to God, and when we don't get that immediate answer, we give up. That couple waited 7 years for their answer and stayed steadfast in prayer.
In Somalia, Christians are being hunted down, tortured and killed. (Somalis For Jesus) has a blog on some of the things happening. Mission Network News and Voice of the Martyrs does as well.
Again, I am blessed that I am Canadian and live where freedom rings like a resounding bell on a Sunday morning!
My point is that we have a lot to be grateful for, and we aren't, not properly. I hear a lot of talk against other cultures and races. There are bad apples in all races and cultures. There are extremists groups.
We complain that the immigrants are taking our jobs, they have better homes, they have business' ventures, cars etc. Yes, they are living the Canadian dream, but you better stop and look at them as individuals and not lump them all together. Some came from nothing, and from war torn persecuted countries. Tortured for their faith, for just being of the culture they were.
The Bible states that when we speak against others, we are placing a curse upon ourselves. I would rather be speaking blessing and helping others, than bringing in a curse on myself.
Maybe one person at a time, we could bring a bit of peace, love and sunshine into someone's life, and therefore into our own. So my Christian brothers and sisters, remember, God made us all in His image, the same life blood flows through our veins, and the blood of Jesus was shed for all mankind, that means white, black, red, yellow and polka dotted if that's your preference. He doesn't care if you have ink on your skin, or what you are wearing today. The sacrifice was made.
When you bring Him into your life, He starts changing you from the inside out. So remember that when you start to look at people just because they are different from you.
Signing off for today
May God richly bless each one of you.
Rhona
