I am writing this blog at 9:00 pm (our time zone) on a Saturday night. There are many advantages to living in Asia. One is that in terms of time we are ahead of most of the world. Therefore when I pray for the church around the world on a Saturday night (my usual habit) I know that no one in the world is entering into Sunday worship yet. (Of course many of our Christian friends in Muslim countries will have worshipped on Friday, but that is another story.)
Even if you live in North America, as most of this blog's readers do, if you pray for Christians around the world on Saturday night, you will be praying before the majority will have started or at least finished their Sunday services. For what should you pray?
Remember that their are millions of Christians who have no guarantee of safety and security when they gather to worship. I prayed earlier this evening for their courage and safety: there must be many Christians tonight wondering if they should risk attending a church gathering tomorrow. In their village, they risk mockery, a beating, perhaps arrest if they venture out to church. Some may be shot inside or outside of their church building. Others who will welcome a small group of believers into their home for worship tomorrow may risk having their house burned to the ground. Some will gather, not knowing if police may arrest their leaders, or all of them, tomorrow.
We who live in free, secure countries, may, to our shame skip Sunday worship if it is raining hard, or we were out too late Saturday night, or we have a sniffle, or ----. We take it for granted that we can attend a Sunday church service in safety and security on any Sunday we choose. Thus sadly, we don't often consider this a privilege.
I challenge you to make a habit of praying for five minutes each Saturday night for those who will take a risk Sunday morning by attending a church service. Risking because they love Jesus, risking because they need Christian fellowship, worship and teaching; risking because they know gathering with His church pleases Jesus.
And maybe, if you live in a "risk free" country, praying for these courageous, committed brothers and sisters will increase your commitment to gather with Christians; and increase your gratitude that you can do so, with no risk.
Even if you live in North America, as most of this blog's readers do, if you pray for Christians around the world on Saturday night, you will be praying before the majority will have started or at least finished their Sunday services. For what should you pray?
Remember that their are millions of Christians who have no guarantee of safety and security when they gather to worship. I prayed earlier this evening for their courage and safety: there must be many Christians tonight wondering if they should risk attending a church gathering tomorrow. In their village, they risk mockery, a beating, perhaps arrest if they venture out to church. Some may be shot inside or outside of their church building. Others who will welcome a small group of believers into their home for worship tomorrow may risk having their house burned to the ground. Some will gather, not knowing if police may arrest their leaders, or all of them, tomorrow.
We who live in free, secure countries, may, to our shame skip Sunday worship if it is raining hard, or we were out too late Saturday night, or we have a sniffle, or ----. We take it for granted that we can attend a Sunday church service in safety and security on any Sunday we choose. Thus sadly, we don't often consider this a privilege.
I challenge you to make a habit of praying for five minutes each Saturday night for those who will take a risk Sunday morning by attending a church service. Risking because they love Jesus, risking because they need Christian fellowship, worship and teaching; risking because they know gathering with His church pleases Jesus.
And maybe, if you live in a "risk free" country, praying for these courageous, committed brothers and sisters will increase your commitment to gather with Christians; and increase your gratitude that you can do so, with no risk.
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