“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, ESV)
While you were asleep during the night of February 13, 2025, seventy Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were captured, beaten, and tied up by ISIS warriors. They were forced to go to a church in Kasanga. There, they were beaten to death with hammers or hacked apart or beheaded with machetes. Their crime? They were Christians just like you.
Between 2009 and 2023, Islamic men captured and killed more than 52,250 Christians in a systematic attempt to wipe out Christianity in Nigeria and replace it with a purer form of Islam.
In January of 2025, the organization called “Open Doors” proved by their own investigative work that 12 Christians are killed every day for their faith in various parts of the world. A study in 2000 concluded that more Christians died for their faith in the twentieth century than ALL PREVIOUS 1900 YEARS SINCE JESUS LIVED COMBINED. All the murders of Christians for the first 1900 years don’t come close to the murders we’ve experienced in the last 100 or so years. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Concurrent with the rise in murders of Christians, the persecution of Christians has occurred far and wide. The persecution often comes from other religions, particularly Islam. Some nations in the Middle East and Asia prohibit Christians from even talking about the faith in public, threatening arrest or death. Atheists, too, are fond of persecuting Christians. Atheistic regimes in China, Asia, Canada, and Europe often make demands that prohibit Christians from public gatherings or limit their ability to worship, even in their homes (China). During the Covid pandemic, many places jailed Christians for worshipping or outlawed Christian worship altogether. Pastors and laypeople alike were arrested for worshipping in places like California, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Moscow, Myanmar, and many, many more.
Being a Christian puts you in danger. Isn’t that obvious based on the above examples? Being a follower of Jesus Christ also paints a metaphorical bullseye on your back. Not only will other religions and secular atheists persecute you, but Satan will also send all kinds of spiritual attacks your way. Demons would love to hurt you. Evil spirits are told to harass you, as they did Jesus (Matthew 4). There are many noted examples of witches putting hexes on Christians. When Donald Trump ran for president, several notorious articles and interviews claimed that witches so hated Donald Trump that they were even sacrificing animals to increase the power of their spells to hurt Trump and his followers. In an interview with a satanic priest that I watched on YouTube, the priest explained their goal of spiritually tormenting faithful Christian people like you and me.
The scripture for today explains that even in New Testament times, followers of Jesus suffered for their faith. Hebrews 13:3 asked Christians to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Paul added this bit of wisdom in his letter to the Corinthian church: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The message of these scriptures is clear. We know there will be persecution of Christians. As Christ Jesus suffered persecution and death, some people today will want you to suffer in like manner. From non-believers to evil spirits, many places in this world are openly hostile to Jesus and His faithful. That will not stop us from rejoicing in the Lord!
Will you ever end the suffering and persecutions of Christians for their faith? No. In fact, the book of Revelation makes clear that in the End Times, there will be an overwhelming push to persecute and murder Christians. So, what are we to do about all this suffering and persecution?
When Jesus faced persecution for His faith, He continued His ministry without fear or regret. Even when Jews threatened to stone Him, Jesus would not stop putting His faith out there (John 10:32, 11:8). Even when Jesus faced the cross, He did not back down. Instead, He remained faithful until the end.
The book of James included the following words in his letter, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12). This same sentiment is found in the book of Revelation, where it promises, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10). You may not escape persecution or suffering for Jesus, but God will take notice of your sacrifice. God will bless your courage. God will reward your faith.
Does God give you any protection from persecution, suffering, and martyrdom? Yes! There are many ways God will protect the faithful. When Peter was jailed for preaching about Jesus, an angel freed him from prison (Acts 12). When some Jews from Damascus wanted to kill Saul, followers of Jesus got him to safety (Acts 9:23-25) When Paul was caught in a storm and shipwrecked, God saved him from death (Acts 27). God always looks out and protects the faithful. Even when the faithful die, they are saved from suffering in hell!
God also gives you many other spiritual powers to combat persecution and spiritual attacks. 1 Corinthians 12 teaches that the Holy Spirit gives the faithful great powers. People of God will be given wisdom and strength above the norm. They will be able to discern good from evil. They will be endowed with the knowledge to fight evil. They will even have the power to do miracles!
God has your back. Jesus has taught you great wisdom and has shown you the way. The Holy Spirit is there to protect you, even giving you the armor of God (Ephesians 6) to protect you in this dangerous world. You are never alone! With Jesus as your Savior and God the Father as your Protector, your steps are watched over all the way to Heaven! You are a precious gift of God!
Between 2009 and 2023, Islamic men captured and killed more than 52,250 Christians in a systematic attempt to wipe out Christianity in Nigeria and replace it with a purer form of Islam.
In January of 2025, the organization called “Open Doors” proved by their own investigative work that 12 Christians are killed every day for their faith in various parts of the world. A study in 2000 concluded that more Christians died for their faith in the twentieth century than ALL PREVIOUS 1900 YEARS SINCE JESUS LIVED COMBINED. All the murders of Christians for the first 1900 years don’t come close to the murders we’ve experienced in the last 100 or so years. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Concurrent with the rise in murders of Christians, the persecution of Christians has occurred far and wide. The persecution often comes from other religions, particularly Islam. Some nations in the Middle East and Asia prohibit Christians from even talking about the faith in public, threatening arrest or death. Atheists, too, are fond of persecuting Christians. Atheistic regimes in China, Asia, Canada, and Europe often make demands that prohibit Christians from public gatherings or limit their ability to worship, even in their homes (China). During the Covid pandemic, many places jailed Christians for worshipping or outlawed Christian worship altogether. Pastors and laypeople alike were arrested for worshipping in places like California, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Moscow, Myanmar, and many, many more.
Being a Christian puts you in danger. Isn’t that obvious based on the above examples? Being a follower of Jesus Christ also paints a metaphorical bullseye on your back. Not only will other religions and secular atheists persecute you, but Satan will also send all kinds of spiritual attacks your way. Demons would love to hurt you. Evil spirits are told to harass you, as they did Jesus (Matthew 4). There are many noted examples of witches putting hexes on Christians. When Donald Trump ran for president, several notorious articles and interviews claimed that witches so hated Donald Trump that they were even sacrificing animals to increase the power of their spells to hurt Trump and his followers. In an interview with a satanic priest that I watched on YouTube, the priest explained their goal of spiritually tormenting faithful Christian people like you and me.
The scripture for today explains that even in New Testament times, followers of Jesus suffered for their faith. Hebrews 13:3 asked Christians to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Paul added this bit of wisdom in his letter to the Corinthian church: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The message of these scriptures is clear. We know there will be persecution of Christians. As Christ Jesus suffered persecution and death, some people today will want you to suffer in like manner. From non-believers to evil spirits, many places in this world are openly hostile to Jesus and His faithful. That will not stop us from rejoicing in the Lord!
Will you ever end the suffering and persecutions of Christians for their faith? No. In fact, the book of Revelation makes clear that in the End Times, there will be an overwhelming push to persecute and murder Christians. So, what are we to do about all this suffering and persecution?
When Jesus faced persecution for His faith, He continued His ministry without fear or regret. Even when Jews threatened to stone Him, Jesus would not stop putting His faith out there (John 10:32, 11:8). Even when Jesus faced the cross, He did not back down. Instead, He remained faithful until the end.
The book of James included the following words in his letter, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12). This same sentiment is found in the book of Revelation, where it promises, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10). You may not escape persecution or suffering for Jesus, but God will take notice of your sacrifice. God will bless your courage. God will reward your faith.
Does God give you any protection from persecution, suffering, and martyrdom? Yes! There are many ways God will protect the faithful. When Peter was jailed for preaching about Jesus, an angel freed him from prison (Acts 12). When some Jews from Damascus wanted to kill Saul, followers of Jesus got him to safety (Acts 9:23-25) When Paul was caught in a storm and shipwrecked, God saved him from death (Acts 27). God always looks out and protects the faithful. Even when the faithful die, they are saved from suffering in hell!
God also gives you many other spiritual powers to combat persecution and spiritual attacks. 1 Corinthians 12 teaches that the Holy Spirit gives the faithful great powers. People of God will be given wisdom and strength above the norm. They will be able to discern good from evil. They will be endowed with the knowledge to fight evil. They will even have the power to do miracles!
God has your back. Jesus has taught you great wisdom and has shown you the way. The Holy Spirit is there to protect you, even giving you the armor of God (Ephesians 6) to protect you in this dangerous world. You are never alone! With Jesus as your Savior and God the Father as your Protector, your steps are watched over all the way to Heaven! You are a precious gift of God!