2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
It bothers me that sometimes I don’t need GOD.
A while back, a conversation arose between me and a friend about complacency and persecution. This friend related how the church over in China was praying for the American church to be persecuted. This, naturally, took me aback at first, until I understood it in context. Under extreme persecutions, the underground church in China has flourished (like the Book of Acts church). The arrests, beatings, and sometime death sentences has only served to throw spiritual gasoline on the flock there. It has forced them to spread out, stretch their comfort zone (if there was one to begin with), and display a love for everyone- including those who want them shut up so badly. Despite some of the obvious pain accompanying such a situation, they are taking joy in clinging to their crosses, serving GOD, and relying on Him for EVERYTHING. Out of this love and conviction, they are praying for the American church to be shaken from our complacency. Given is the fact that there are many sold-out Jesus Freaks here in the States. But overall, the church has become like that in Laodicea which we read about in the Scripture yesterday. There was a time when we needed GOD. But in our prosperity, wealth, entertainment, and materialism, we have grown distracted and distanced from the Giver of those things. Gotten out of balance. Lost sight of the eternal. May we begin to once again heed the anthem of our prayer ministry, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves…I will heal their land.”
And, by the way, remember your Chinese brothers and sisters in prayer today. The world is much bigger than our little patch of buckshot.
Author’s Note: for more on this topic, read pages 87-88 of Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
