The Cloud

 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Jesus died on that wooden cross, he loved us this much. Before the cross, he suffered greatly at the hands of those that he loves. Most people see the glorified image of Jesus on the cross with seemingly minor injuries. This is not how our savior looked hanging on the cross. He was ridiculed, mocked, spit on, scourged to the point where he was unrecognizable, had a crown of thorns pressed into his head, and forced to drag the cross where he would be pierced through with nails and die a slow, painful, suffocating death. "This then, was the end, not of a martyr, but the Head of all the holy martyrs, through whom they and we all must be saved" (Martyrs Mirror 1660 Thieleman J. van Braght). Three days later, our Saviour rose and defeated the grave.

 

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:20

 

Persecution is not defined based on the level of pain it may cause or level of intensity. It comes in many forms ranging from mildly hostile to intensely hostile. Persecution comes in three forms. The first is that of the heart (anger, jealousy, hatred). This heart enmity is the root of all other kinds of persecution. The second is that of the tongue (out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks Luke 6:45). Last kind of persecution is that which expresses itself in actions (innumerable cruel and insatiable acts including but not limited to fines, imprisonment, torture, death).

 

In this series, I hope to bring light to our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in all nations. As Christians, we are called to stand with those that are being persecuted and remember them "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." Hebrews 13:3.

 

A year ago, I bought a book called Jesus Freaks, inside was story after story of Christians standing in there faith through the midst of terrible suffering and death handed to them by their persecutors. This was the beginning of my journey. I was in shock, not because these things had happened, but when these things had happened. When I saw the dates of some of these stories, the realization that these things had happened in my lifetime I was in awe. I found out about the organization called Voice of the Martyrs* and since then I have been learning as much as I can about the persecuted church. I am still shocked to read the accounts of persecution today.

Since the church's founding, nearly 70 million Christians have been killed for there faith. Even more shocking, 65% were martyred in the 20th century.

 

Please pray for the persecuted church and the families of the many martyrs for Christ. Also pray for the persecutors that they may see there error and folly and turn to Jesus for salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

*I would like to give thanks to God for placing the persecuted church on my heart

*Thanks to the Voice of the Martyrs for there steadfast work with the persecuted church, their online classes and also allowing me to use their images in The Cloud. Their website is Persecution.com