Lord I seek you this morning as my source of love, grace and mercy.
“I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering. For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way - struggles from the outside, fears from within.” (2 Corinthians 7:4-5)
Last year, 45 nations scored high enough to register “very high” persecution levels on Open Doors’s 84-question matrix. This year, for the first time in 29 years of tracking, 54 nations qualified. The listed nations contain 340 million Christians living in places with very high or extreme levels of persecution, up from 260 million in last year’s list. Every day, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. And every day, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned, and another 5 are abducted. And these Christians are all sons and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, spouses and friends, neighbors and co-workers, just like you and me.. Jesus, you remind me this morning that there is not the “persecuted” church over seas and the “un persecuted” church over here, there is just The Church. Your prayer to the Father for us as the church and the family of God was, “So that they may be one just as we are one.” (John 17:11). This, morning, I fall back down on my knees in prayer and mourning with my family members who are being persecuted for their faith. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Jesus, you remind me as I watch the news that we are all connected. Your salvation was not simply focused on me and love for me, but was one of global focus and love, “For this is the way God loved the world” (John 3:16). You remind me that my salvation I live out today, my holiness is a social holiness, that we are connected, and I cant rejoice completely in my salvation while my brothers and sisters are suffering around the world, and in my communities. Lord help strive to restore and live out the complete joy of my salvation by helping those who are suffering in theirs, or have not yet entered into a saving relationship with Christ.
My family, I pray today the global implications of “For God so loved the world” reminds you of your connectedness with your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and in your community. I pray your prayers expand today with a global perspective for The Church to which we are all called to be one with, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!