Thoughts for another day

September 5, 2008.

Today's verse: 2 Tim. 3:12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We know what’s happening in Orissa, India and the severe persecution our brothers and sisters are undergoing for the sake of His Name. To hear what’s happening and know how they are suffering, is really soul wrenching. I believe there are devout men and women and children out there, who are interceding for them and fasting from food and that includes you too.

Today, the Lord tells us of an essential requirement for our walk with Him: Our need to suffer. There’s no resurrection without the Cross and death. In our solidarity with these brothers and sisters, we must also understand that the dimension of Grace we operate in, is available only when we are pained for the sake of the Name of Jesus Christ. If we want to live with Him, we must also learn to live like Him - to this there is no escape.

For a Christian, life may be completely normal, until that day, when everything turns topsy turvy. When the flesh is torn for the sake of the One we have believed in and when the hair is pulled out from the scalp because of Jesus’ Name. Maybe at this time of hurting, we may be inclined to deny that Name, but remember, He said, ‘If anyone denies Me before men, him shall I deny before the Father in heaven.’ The price for denial has to be paid forever, but the price for agreement, though painful, is just temporary and leads to eternal reward. I would urge each one of you to think about it because it could just be that you are in a similar situation; for none of us is too far from the agents of the god of the world.

I understand the pain and grief of our brothers and sisters. Just yesterday, I got to know from a brother that a boy from the boys’ home lost his father in the brutality of the recent attacks on Christians. What would the boy’s feelings be? Step into his little shoes to understand his tears. Gaze deep into his trauma and reflect if you can on ‘His love.’ You will know that the love we are called to is of the higher kind, where the other is greater than I am. In this love I pray let us be and for now, let’s just feel the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters, even as God’s heart is rent for them, but He cannot move till we pray. INTENSELY.