Uncomfortably Good
April 1, 2008
I sat down this morning and finally opened my latest issue of Voice of the Martyrs magazine. I think subconsciously I had been putting it off. Sometimes there are things you would rather not think about. As I suspected, my life and even my very existence were challenged. Whether it was the Christian’s home in Egypt burned, or the new believer in Morocco who was thrown out of his father’s home, or the pastor’s front door welded shut (with his family still inside!) in China, all of them make me feel uncomfortable. But it is a good uncomfortable. They remind me that this world is not my home. They show me that Christ is wondrously precious. The Bible commands believers to remember those who are persecuted for their faith (see Hebrews 13:3). The hard part is feeling so inadequate. Offering help seems like an attempt to water the Sahara Desert. It is impossible to address all the suffering and pain of the persecuted church. But we cannot become paralyzed. I hope you will take time to read about the persecuted church today. There are several organizations devoted to this kind of ministry. I personally recommend to you Voice of the Martyrs. You can visit them online at www.persecution.com . I encourage you to subscribe to their periodical also. I may forget to get online, but that white envelope keeps coming. I would also encourage you to consider supporting your persecuted family abroad. I give regularly to VOM. I hope you would consider it as well.
Hello Pastor Tim,
I subscribe to VOM as well and every month it reminds me of how fortunate we are here in America. We do not know persecution as our Christian brothers and sisters experience in other countries. I count my blessings and stop whining about whatever inconvenience I am experiencing at the time and thank God for these bold Christians. This publication always seems to help me put my life back in perspective. My worst day doesn’t begin to compare to what others have to endure daily in other parts of the world.
In Christ,
Christine Reed