GOD IS IN CONTROL
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Roman's 8:28
Any believer who is concerned about the well-being of the Christians in the Middle East these days has a cause to be grieving. The military and political upheavals in that troubled region have made Christians vulnerable to both political tyranny and to the constant violent religious conflict going on between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. And then there are the the hard-line Islamic fundamentalists who want to establish a new worldwide caliphate. Iraq has lost over half of its Christian population in the last two decades; Syria's Christian losses are similar. Does this look as though God is not providing adequate protection for His people?
Does this mean that God is more interested in people than in territory? It has happened many times in history, when God used the persecution and migrations of His saints to spread the gospel to new places, and so used their hardships to bring blessings to others. Consider the outcomes of the first large-scale persecution to break out in the New Testament era: "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered. . . . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:1,4).
When we suffer for the sake of Christ, it sometimes seems to be in vain. But God is able to make all things work for His purpose and glory. His ways are not our ways. He sees the end from the beginning. And the end of every child of God is the glory of God, no matter what may happen to them here on earth.
Prayer: I praise You Father, for You are working out everything for Your purpose and glory.
SCRIPTURAL Reading: Romans 8:28-39
