Stand with the Suffering
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Excuse me if this sounds a bit direct, but how much do you know about persecution? Not just as a word – but as a lived reality. And when you hear that Christians are suffering for their faith at historically unprecedented levels, how deeply do you care?
Right now, Christians in Nigeria are facing some of the world’s most brutal attacks. According to Open Doors UK, more followers of Jesus are killed in Nigeria each year than in the rest of the world combined.
Premier Christian News in London reports that in the past year alone, more than 7,000 Christians have been murdered, over 1,100 communities displaced, and nearly 19,000 churches destroyed by extremists.
But behind those statistics are faces – families fleeing into the bush, pastors tortured, women and children left without homes – all because they refuse to deny Jesus. Back in His day, Jesus said this:
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)
That’s not an easy verse to hear. But God calls us to stand with His suffering body – to pray, to care, to act. Because when one part of the body hurts, every part should feel the pain.
Those of us who live in relative comfort and safety are called to pray for courage, hope, and strength for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and beyond. And in a very practical way, we can support ministries like Open Doors, who bring relief and rebuild faith communities.
Oh, and please, never take your freedom lightly. Because the gospel those people are dying for … is the same gospel that gives you life.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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