Time out for a pop quiz.
Question one: Please name the country with the worst record of abuse toward Christian believers.
Question two. Please list the names of any countries you've prayed for in the last week where believers are heavily persecuted.
Now pass your papers forward, please.
How'd you do? Did you get the answer to the first question? It's North Korea, the most restrictive nation in the world for Christ followers.
I'm actually more interested in question number two—the number of countries you've prayed for in the last week. Places where Christians are treated with open hostility.
If you're struggling, you're a typical American Christian. Our sense of global geography is so shrunken, there's little wonder we know so little about the persecuted church worldwide. But that doesn't make it right. Nor does it excuse us from having the persecuted church OFF of our radar screen.
Did you know that a recent global study concludes 75% of all religious persecution is aimed at Christians? And did you know that in more than 30 countries, Christians are significantly hassled for their faith? Worldwide, more than 200 million Christians are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith.
Hebrews 13:3 commands us (note this is NOT a suggestion):
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
What if BEFORE we asked God to bless us with more…we asked God to lift up a soul sagging under the weight of persecution?
What if BEFORE we ever prayed for our loved one with cancer, we prayed for loved ones overseas right now suffering for their faith?
Like some practical prayer helps? Go to persecution.com or…opendoorsusa.org. That’s persecution .com…or opendoorsusa.org.
The persecuted church MUST be on our radar screen. Otherwise we are living outside the declared will of God.