As though bound with them

 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. – Hebrews 13.3

 

On Sunday the 15^th we as a church remembered the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. The featured country this year was Nigeria so on Sunday night as part of our Zoom Bible study we paused and prayed for Nigerian believers.

 

We who live in relative comfort and freedom really have no idea of what it is like to be ‘chained’ for our faith. At worst our worship may be made difficult or we may be limited by regulations, but for the most part none of us will be arrested and jailed just because of our faith.

 

But all over the world, in numbers greater than any other time in the church, believers suffer for their faith. They are beaten and arrested and assaulted and thrown in prison and tortured and even killed just because they name the name of Christ.

 

Are these folks a major part of our prayers? Do we pray for them with the same intensity and we would if we were in chains with them or if someone we know and love were imprisoned for their faith? 

Most of our prayer lives need major changes. We need to remember these dear folks daily and ti intercede on their behalf.