Day Sixty-six

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,
every part rejoices with it.” (1 Cor. 12:26)

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:21–27

Part of our “body” is suffering—I mean really suffering. Many knowledgeable observers are convinced we are presently living in the greatest era of Christian persecution in all history. Shocking, isn’t it? Never before have so many Christians been persecuted for their beliefs. An estimated 200 million to 250 million Christians are at risk. Because they are so far removed from our day-to-day experience, we often don’t acknowledge these Christians’ place in the body.14

Several alarming new books contain eyewitness testimonies of terrible suffering by Christians at the hands of persecutors. While we sometimes experience mild forms of persecution like being overlooked for promotions at work, in other countries believers in horrifying numbers are being imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Children are sometimes taken from believing parents as punishment for their faith. These children are forced to be slaves—or worse. In our present generation, people whose names we’ll never know have endured broken limbs and scalded skin for refusing to renounce the name of Christ.

The Lamb’s book of life records hundreds of thousands of faithful followers who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. My heart broke with conviction as I read the words of an American Jewish lawyer who is doing everything he can to alert influential people about this persecution. His memory of the Nazi crimes against the Jews fuels his concern for persecuted Christians. He cannot comprehend why American Christians seem out of touch and uninvolved with their fellow disciples. We can offer one reason, but we can’t excuse our lack of concern; we are uninformed.

These suffering believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Colossians 2:19 tells us Christ is “the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” Praise God, the “body” is growing, but it is suffering from torn ligaments. Our “connectors” are weak. How can the ligaments be strengthened? The key is PRAYER!

Oh, that God would increase our sense of connection to believers around the world! They are part of us. Many are suffering terribly. Will we allow them to permeate our thoughts and cost us a tear or two? We can take our concern to the floor of intercession and stand in the gap for them. Christ will act as a direct result of intercessory prayer. We will spend eternity with these people. One day they will know we cared. We will hear their testimonies and surely think, “The world was not worthy of them” (Heb. 11:38).

Beloved, make it a priority to be informed. Care. Pray. Strengthen the ligaments.