Have you been following the story of Youcef Nadarkhani? He's my brother. He's a pastor in Iran, with a wife and two little boys. He's been in prison since 2009. He's under a death penalty that can be carried out at any time because he refuses to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. As of Monday this week he was still alive, his case awaiting further review.
171,000 believers are martyred every year.
Still. Not in Roman times, but in 2011, and 2010, and 2009…
In the time it takes us to sit through a worship service, 20 men, women and children die because of their unyielding commitment to Christ.
I think of them when our Bible study group meets in comfort and safety. I think of them when I look at my shelves with multiple copies of the Bible that I can legally own.
I don't know why God requires so much of my brothers and sisters. Maybe He knows my limits. I have trouble when my husband goes on a trip- my brain would snap if he were imprisoned and sentenced to death. Maybe He knows fighting to keep my testimony in a culture of lazy materialism is all the challenge I can handle. That shames me. At the same time, I'm too comfortable, too afraid to desire a greater challenge.
Hebrews 13:3 says "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also."
Remember with me. Pray with me. For Youcef and for the millions like him and his family across the world. God has not forgotten them. He is keeping a record.
For more information, check Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors USA
Wow. What a sobering reality. It truly breaks my heart to think it's that many–a year. I will definitely be keeping him and his family in prayers–along with the others in similar situations that we don't know about.
#PrayforYoucefNadarkhani