What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?Well, Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Well, technically since it's 1AM, it's no longer February 14th. But just pretend it still is. ;)
Today's verse is pretty generic and Sunday Schoolish, and it is also pretty similar to yesterday's devotional. But since today is a day dedicated to St. Valentine, who was persecuted and ultimately killed for his faith in Christ, I felt it would be suitable.
There are currently people in different parts of the world who are being beaten, discriminated against, and, for some, being killed because of their faith in God. Some countries even make it illegal for someone to even own a Bible. Christians have to meet in buildings in the middle of the night where Christianity is outlawed so that they can worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. I, and probably all of the people reading this, will most likely never face that kind of persecution for our faith. Can you imagine having that constant fear that someone will turn you in to authorities because you shared the Gospel with them, or that at any moment, the cops could burst through the doors of your church and take you away in handcuffs?
It's so convicting to think how strong those people must be to have so much faith in the Lord that they would risk being jailed, beaten, or killed, and to examine myself and see if my faith is even half as strong. Those people could renounce their Christianity, and their constant anxiety would vanish. But they don't because they have real faith and they know that God will provide forevermore. They believe wholeheartedly that absolutely nothing can stand in the way of God's love.
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:33-39)
I pray for all the Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in countries where it's outlawed, that God will give them the strength to carry on and rely on Him no matter what. I thank God for those brave people who will never give up, even when facing potential death for their beliefs. And I pray that the Lord will give me the courage, strength, and boldness so that I can have a sturdy, unwavering Christianity like them.
Visit persecution.com where you can see the nations in which Christianity is outlawed, give money, and receive updates on each restricted nation.
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