14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
In America, it seems, we have lost the ability to know what it must be like to 'suffer' for the Lord.
I go as far as to say suffering is as foreign of a concept to us as the prosperity gospel is to our brothers and sisters in countries that have seen much suffering and death. We drive around in brand new, or slightly used cars with the latest gadgets while our brothers and sisters are still using kerosene to heat their homes and walking in shoes so worn that the soles of their shoes cause them to get callouses.
We, on the other hand, surround ourselves with the comfort of our electronics with it's never ending 'cat videos' while our brothers and sisters in a foreign land are lucky enough to have just enough 'bandwidth' to perform their daily commerce. We're like the proverbial frog lulling itself to sleep in gradually boiling water.
If we miss a meal or two, most likely to lose a few pounds, we think we're connecting with what it feels like to live in a war-torn country where people are searching for their next meal.
While we ride in comfort to Church each week, we forget that there are those in other countries who risk their lives just to read a bible or fellowship with others like them.
Alas, it seems we have much to learn from our brothers and sisters in less prosperous areas of the world.
Perhaps their faith in Jesus makes them rich of the important things that matter to God?
Dear Jesus, I pray for those who are suffering in other lands. I pray for the persecuted church that you will use your church to bring others into a saving faith in Jesus. I pray that while we may enjoy our prosperous lifestyle that we don't forget those who put their lives on the line just to have their own copy of the Bible or worship with other believers. May we go through our houses and gather all the bibles that aren't being used and send them to our suffering brothers and sisters in need of one. Thank you, Jesus, for your gift of Salvation and for giving us a new purpose for living in this life. Amen
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