Week 2 of our series titled “7″ is coming up this Sunday. It covers the letter that was written to the church in the city of Smyrna. It is the shortest of the 7 letters, but quite possibly the most powerful! I’m looking forward to sharing some insights from the text this Sunday.
One of the unique things about the church in Smyrna is that we actually have some historical accounts of their suffering. Specifically, we have the written account of their pastor’s martyrdom. Their pastor was a man named “Polycarp.” When he was about to be burned alive, he was given one last chance to denounce Christ. This was his reply:
“You threaten with a fire that burns only briefly and after just a little while is extinguished, for you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, which is reserved for the ungodly. But, why do you delay? Come, do what you wish.”
Wow! I can’t wait to embrace him in heaven someday!
We often think of persecution as something that happened in the 1st century. Its true that Christians were brutalized by the Roman government in the first few centuries following Christ’s return to heaven. But most of us fail to realize that more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than the previous 19 centuries combined. Today there are Christians around the world that suffer in a variety of ways simply because they worship Jesus. Their oppression would instantly stop if only they would denounce their faith in Christ.
As you wrestle with your own battles today, take some time to reflect on those who are in a cold prison cell today, away from their family, because they love Jesus. Take some time to pray for those whose homes will be destroyed today because they refuse to worship Hindu deities. Take some time to pray for Christians that will worship in secret this coming Sunday, at the risk of everything.
Here are a few links that talk about today’s persecuted church:
http://www.idop.org/
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/
