PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• There’s an article on CBN News today titled, “’Hundreds of Thousands of Churches’ Are Victims of China’s Ongoing Communist Crackdown.”
The article outlines the Chinese government’s ongoing attempt to prevent Christianity from growing as it places Christian worshipers under arrest.
Earlier this month, over 100 Christians in Iran were arrested because of their faith.
All over the world, men and women are imprisoned for their belief in Jesus; look up the non-profit group, “The Voice of the Martyrs” for details on how Christians are being persecuted and imprisoned for their faith.
And here in America, the trend to villain-ize Christians continues its upswing.
Even this week, Christian baker Jack Phillips was once again in the news — facing additional legal action because he refuses to bake cakes that compromise his Christian values.
There are men and women around the globe who are willing to sacrifice their freedom and very lives for the sake of Jesus Christ.
And yet, here in America, so many Christians will willingly and purposefully miss the opportunity today to be in the House of God to worship Him on the Sabbath.
I’m not judging.
I missed church last week, myself.
But when I see headlines like the ones I’ve listed above, it reminds me of the privilege we have to worship.
Being a Christian isn’t easy, but we are reminded in Psalm 95:6, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
This command is being carried out in secret house churches across the world — where the very act of worshipping God is illegal!
And it makes me ashamed of myself when I think of the missed opportunities to worship with other believers, just because I didn’t want to leave the house that morning.
Today, as you pray, ask the Lord to protect those whose very lives are at risk for the sake of worship.
Ask Him to encourage their hearts and strengthen their faith through their adversity.
And ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with a grateful heart that you have the freedom to go to church and worship God with other believers.
