This thought came into even more clarity as I watched videos concerning the persecuted church in the world. The reality is that the joy, steadfastness, and hope that they carry in their life challenges me to my core. To be quite honest...and I mean this in all sincerity...when I hear their stories - I long to possess that type of faith because I'm realizing that it is one that has been tried by fire. It's pure, it's precious, and it is real.
Growing up in a country where we are free to worship however we choose isn't a bad thing. It just changes things. The followers of Jesus understood what it meant to be a "witness" unto Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. The Greek word translated "witness" can also be translated as martyr. I am pretty sure that the disciples knew full well that the faith they were carrying could very well mean giving their lives. But they were willing to give everything.
I'm discovering more and more that the "quality" of faith we carry is different from theirs. Their faith is often forged in the fire while ours becomes a choice between so many others. Their faith becomes their life while ours becomes a part of our lives. I hope you understand that I'm grateful for the freedom we have - and I'm not trying to disregard the quality of your faith - I'm simply saying that they are challenged with dying for their faith while many of us are struggling to live out our faith.
Counting it ALL joy...
Consider the words with me. The trying of their faith produces steadfastness. Although we cringe at the thoughts of what so many of them go through, look at what they possess. They possess a mindset that says regardless of what we go through we can be joyful. Regardless of the difficulty they do not deny Christ. They own something that is real, that is valid, and that has truly changed their lives.
I was reminded of the writings of Richard Wurmbrand during this process. I was thinking about the quality of faith that he carried even though he spent 14 years in a Communist prison. Even though he endured horrible torture, humiliation, sickness, starvation, and was even left for dead - he came out victorious, steadfast in His love for God, and bold in his advancement of the Kingdom of God. It was a difficult trial. It wasn't pretty. But what was produced in his life was a precious treasure. He is quoted as saying, "I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church, and in prison."
What we may not realize is that the quality of faith that comes out of persecution is a result of the joy that is carried through the trials. What a word for us in the free world: "Count it all JOY..."
Count it all joy when people misunderstand you.
Count It all joy when people disregard you.
Count it All joy when people laugh at you.
Count it all Joy when people think you are foolish to believe what you believe.
Your joyfulness through these difficult experiences will produce a faith that is to be treasured above anything this world can give.
Pray for our brothers and sisters who are going through the trials of persecution. They need hope. They need encouragement. They need our intercession.
Pray for those of us who are experiencing our faith in the midst of freedom as well. Our challenges are quite different but we need to possess the same quality of faith.
I remember hearing of a pastor who was sharing with another pastor from a persecuted country. He said, "We pray for you in your persecution." The persecuted pastor said "No...you don't understand...we pray for YOU in your freedom." This man understood, as David Platt said in his book "Radical": "Wake up. Wake up and realize that there are infinitely more important things in your life than football and a 401(k). Wake up and realize there are real battles to be fought, so different from the superficial, meaningless 'battles' you focus on. Wake up to the countless multitudes who are currently destined for a Christless eternity."
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