Pray for Our Brothers in Bondage

April 19

The historical record tells us that all of Jesus’ apostles except John died at the hands of haters of the gospel. These good and honorable men were vilified and vilely treated because of their endeavor to live the life of faith and to share the tenets of Christianity among the lost with whom they shared the good news of salvation.

These men did not count life as something to be cherished. As Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He echoed the heart of every one of the apostles when he penned those amazing words! None of them valued their lives except as vehicles by which the message of Jesus might be carried to unbelievers.

These bold proclaimers of the Truth that sets men free had no fear of death—to them, death did not exist! They were confident in the assurance they had from the Lord that believers pass from life to LIFE! As Paul states in Romans 8:38,39, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life; nor angels nor demons; nor the present nor the future—no powers, no height, no depth, nothing in all creation—nothing!—can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Statistically, there are more Christians being persecuted for their faith today than at any other time in history. Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is a most notable example. Though not restricted to the following countries, much persecution of Christians occurs within them: Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Let us pray for our brothers in bondage—that their faith fail not, for their Jesus has promised, “I will never fail you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).