I will be heading out of town for a funeral for the next few days, and plan on continuing the “Firm Foundation” series when I get back, but I did want to take a little time to write about a very long distance conversation I had yesterday. I had the blessing of being able to chat online with a sister in Christ living in a closed country in Asia that I had the privilege to visit years ago. Though it is a place where Christians are persecuted, where idols are openly worshipped everywhere, and where a powerful government keeps the impoverished people in check all the days of their lives, there are passionate followers of Christ there, and a deep thirst for him among many of the people who have not yet heard. I sought to encourage this sister while we talked, but it became quickly clear that she was the one who was to encourage me. Her overwhelming joy and commitment to God, and her unwavering faith in spite of the trials, filled the conversation with words of praise to God, and reminders of what it means to be faithful to him! Am I as committed to God, here where I am free to be, as she is where it can cost her everything? Am I as fervent in my study of his word, here where I own many copies of it, as she is in a place where owning a Bible in her own language is illegal? It was an encouraging and challenging conversation, and such a blessing to me! May we never forget in prayer our brothers and sisters who are suffering in foreign lands for the gospel we so often take for granted, and my we strive, if possible, to be more like them.
Luke
Jude.three.blog@gmail.com
