Pray For Those Who

Can you finish that sentence? Pray for those who…persecute you. Last weekend, 24 people were killed in an attack at a church in Burkina Faso in Africa. It was a deliberate and targeted attack, and analysts are worried that attacks against Christians are rising at an alarming rate. "Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity. In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN." This quote  came over a year ago after the April 2019 bombing of a church in Sri Lanka on Easter weekend. When was the last time you prayed for those around the world who were doing the persecuting?

The persecution of Christians around the world is reaching an unprecedented level, but does it feel like it? News of Christian persecution has not and probably will not make the mainstream. We’re not going to see celebrities and activists call for the protection of Christians around the globe. It is up to us, the church, the family of believers, to do everything we can to support our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing persecution, sometimes at genocidal levels.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10)

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” (1 Peter 4:12-16)

“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22)

“But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.” (1 Peter 3:14)

“So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13)

Unlike other religions that might teach retaliation for persecution, we are taught to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Jesus said that the world will know we are His followers by how we love one another.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (…) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39)            

“‘You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.’” (Matthew 5:43-45)

“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.” (Romans 12:14)

“‘But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’” (Matthew 10:26-28)

When we pray, let’s not forget those who have been sent out and let’s not forget to pray for those who are persecuting them. Pray that God will bless them and they will see the Lord through the work of these missionaries. It won’t be easy but when we do this, Jesus said we are acting as true children of God. Paul, the greatest of all the apostles, asked for prayer for himself and his fellow missionary workers, and it is a model prayer that we can follow as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are out doing the good work of spreading the message of the Gospel throughout the world.

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed