Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10
Imagine you live in a repressed country where it is against the law to openly express your Christian beliefs? Imagine, never being allowed to tell others what Jesus has done in your life through your suffering, through your pain, or through the joy that Jesus has given you when you were baptized, or when you confessed Christ as your Savior and Lord of your life.
Imagine the only time you could gather with other like-minded believers was after walking miles to the nearest house church through muddy patches of land looking over your shoulder for any government officials who might be on your trail? Imagine your love for our Lord is so strong that you are willing to risk imprisonment or death just to gather with those believers? Imagine having parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts who lost their earthly lives from the harsh conditions of the prisons they were in?
Li Quan, one of the Christian characters in 'Safely home' said this about suffering:"Suffering reminds us we are in a Spiritual war. We know who we are fighting for. We know who the enemy is. Even in our cells, we pray for believers outside of China, especially in America. In your affluence and freedom perhaps you forget we are at war.." "I'll get your freedom." "Someone else has already done that. The Lion." "I'm talking about real freedom." "Yesu said, 'You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.' (page282 'Safely Home by Randy Alcorn,
In America, we are drowning in Affluence. We are surrounded by so much 'stuff' that slowly it crowds out the most important person in our life- our Savior Jesus.
Ben Fielding, when it was time to leave his friend Li Quan and return to America said this to his friend," I will pray for you, too. This time I really will." Ben looked at Quan, "When you pray for me, what do you ask?" "That you will face persecution." "What?" " And that through it you will grow. That you will put your armor on and learn to use the sword of the spirit., God's word," /So while I'm praying you will suffer less, you're praying I will suffer more!". I do not wish to see my friend to suffer. But I believe it may be the only way for you to learn how to serve. In house churches, we have little to hope in but our God. In America, you have much to hope in besides God. None but he can bear the weight of your hope. But that is often forgotten. The test of prosperity is not easily passed.".
Yes, we can learn something from our neighboring Christian brothers and sisters. I count it all joy when I picture them praying for us in America.
Yes, we can truly learn something about what it means to suffer through their lives. Perhaps it will take our focus off of our Affluence.
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