FMF: Pattern
Which pattern to you conform to?
This morning I read, 'Do not conform yourself to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind' – and it reminded me that last weeks FMF prompt word was 'pattern', so I want to tell you a little about a pattern that Open Doors have noticed emerging ever more strongly across the church.
I learned more about this last night as I joined Open Doors in an evening of prayer, following the launch of this year's World Watch List (The World Watch List explains which countries are most dangerous to live in if you are a Christian and why).
Please find out more about our Christian family Here https://opendoorsuk.org/persecution/
Even better – watch the prayer evening online and be informed and inspired to pray as the Lord leads you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCVENbEcQ7U .
The pattern is that the more the persecution of Christians increases, the more the church grows!
Is that not a surprising pattern?
People see how difficult it is to be a Christian and yet they see the joy, love and hope in those persecuted and they choose to follow Christ, knowing the suffering that probably will await them at the hands of the world.
This pattern seems difficult for us in the Western World to comprehend – it certainly does for me! I love my comfort and I run from pain and hardship. I am always challenged when I hear the heart-rending stories of cruel violence, oppression, torture and imprisonment suffered by so many of my brothers and sisters – 365 000 brothers and sisters are severely persecuted in this world – and I feel so humbled… I also feel ashamed that I am often scared to speak out and suffer a little mocking or just disinterest from those around me.
I sometimes wonder if I would even be 'accused' of being a Christian in company of those who would persecute!
But this is an acknowledged pattern. It happened right from Jesus and His first disciples. But in places of persecution, the church grows, and in places of relative ease, the church dwindles in complacently.
This is a pattern I acknowledge and I ask for mercy. Mercy for myself and for those of us who slip into complacency.
I ask the Lord to give us courage and grace to declare His goodness in the market-places and homes we inhabit.
Oh that my love would be again fanned into flame and I would sing His praise from the rooftops, unashamed, unabashed and to the glory of my first love.
Romans 12:2
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