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| For Friday, August 29 |
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| SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8:35-36 |
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| KEY VERSE: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Rom. 8:35a).
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| Persecuted Christians |
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Recently, I have read several books on the China house church leaders and movement. In the book, The Heavenly Man, there is a remarkable true story of a persecuted Christian who suffered prolonged torture and imprisonment for his faith. God took this young, half-starved boy from a poor village to preach the gospel, despite horrific opposition. Our Christian brother is now a key leader in the explosive growth of the Christian house church movement in his country. The author of the book is leading a massive group of Christians as they march "back to Jerusalem" proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He challenges our complacency about the situation in his country, yet focuses not on his sufferings, but on the character and beauty of Jesus Christ.
Nothing that happened to this Christian brother, neither "trouble, or hardship, or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" (v. 35) was able to separate him from the love of Christ. Nor should the seemingly insignificant challenges we face in comparison create barriers or rupture our relationship with the Lord. Nothing!
Forgive us, Lord, for our attitude of complacency regarding persecuted Christians at home and abroad. Teach us, anew, about Your incredible grace grip on us in the midst of whatever persecution we face. Amen.
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| -LeBron Fairbanks |
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| SING TO THE LORD |
God will take care of you,
Thro' ev'ry day, O'er all the way.
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| "God Will Take Care of You" by Civilla D. Martin |
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| REACH OUT IN PRAYER |
| Many people in Africa will come to know Christ through medical ministries. |
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| THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
| As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered" (Rom. 8:36). |
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| THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR |
| 1 Chronicles 24-26 |
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All Scripture quotations not otherwise designated are from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
All hymn texts are taken from the hymnal Sing to the Lord. Copyright © 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Company.
Copyright © 2008 by WordAction Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Http://www.WordAction.com |
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