Early this week on the other side of the globe, in an Iranian court, a trial was taking place to determine the life or death of Saeed Abendini, an American pastor under persecution for his Christian beliefs. Arrested in late September while starting numerous house churches, Abendini now faces death sentence for his work. At the close of the trial he was severely beaten and thrown back in prison to await his death.“….I would lay down my life just to be by your side!”
–“Always forever”, Phil Wickham
What is life without Christ? Is it worth it to abandon your faith just to live another few years? Obviously this man and others around the world don’t think so. They obviously believe life is nothing apart from Christ and living without Him isn’t worth living at all. They truly live out their faith and believe without a doubt that their life isn’t theirs but Christ's. As that song says they truly prefer dying in this world rather than dying in the spirit.
“Are we willing to do the same, to live our faith to the fullest extent of the
word even to the point of death??”
America has painted the picture that life is all about riches, prosperity and happiness when really, there is no true happiness apart form Christ and living for Him. If we only confess with our mouths but do not live out our faith how is that genuine faith? Even though works does not save us it does prove our faith. Therefore, since “faith without works is dead,” what better way to shine His light and show Him to the world than through our works?
Brothers and sisters let us ready ourselves to stand bravely in the face of persecution for it is only to those He counts worthy to endure that He brings such trials. Let us strengthen ourselves in Him, girding ourselves with the armor of God to be tested and proven worthy even unto our deaths!
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James :2 14, 17
"For the glory of God!"
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