Many people imagine that though God once suffered on the cross, He’s remote and distant from suffering. Not so! Christ made it clear that to persecute His people is to persecute Him. Whatever others do to His people, He regards as being done to Him (see Matthew 25:40–45).
After His ascension, Jesus said to the Pharisee on the Damascus road, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). Persecution, of course, entails suffering. One verse later Christ says to Saul, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Note the present tense—although Christ’s atoning sacrifice occurred in the past, He continues to identify with and participate in His people’s suffering until He returns to end all suffering.
Thousands of people around the world die for Christ each year, and God knows the story of each one. We are to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).
Each year, Open Doors US releases their World Watch List, a ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US, writes:
North Korea. Somalia. Yemen. India. China. These are places where faith may seem impossible. Where sharing the love of Jesus could cost you your job, your family or even your life.
In the last year, the number of believers living in regions of high persecution and discrimination increased to 388 million. However, these Christians are finding a way to stand strong and to live out faith that, by man’s standards, should be impossible. But with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26)!
The World Watch List is Open Doors’ comprehensive guide to the 50 countries around the world where it’s most difficult to be a Christian. For decades, our team has published detailed annual research on the circumstances, laws, and levels of violence that influence each country’s ranking on the World Watch List. This data is often used by governments to influence policy and by human rights organizations to advocate for change.
But most importantly, this information helps us connect to our persecuted brothers and sisters as we pray for them with knowledge, insight and compassion.
You can download a printable World Watch List. Here are the top 10 countries:
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Sudan
- Eritrea
- Syria
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Libya
- Iran
And speaking of Iran, here are some prayer requests from Elam Ministries related to the protests and unrest currently happening. “…the Iranian people urgently need our prayers. I recently spoke with one believer in Iran who shared, ‘People feel so unspeakably burdened. We have faced so much suffering, uncertainty, and disappointment that many are simply numb to life.’”
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