Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. – Psalm 119:89
In December 2020, Chinese courtrooms were the scene of two trials prosecuting Christian businessmen for selling audio versions of the Bible, as part of that government’s campaign to “eradicate pornography and illegal publications.” In August 2021, the North American president of the Middle East media ministry said, “We’re hearing from reliable sources that the Taliban demand people’s phones, and if they find a downloaded Bible on your device, they will kill you immediately.” He added, “It’s incredibly dangerous right now for Afghans to have anything Christian on their phones. The Taliban have spies and informants everywhere.”
Challenges to Christians in America are not as dire as this but people are being called upon in the United States to denounce their faith. A theological apologist recently wrote that there are battlefields of human culture upon which true Christianity has failed to successfully contend. As a result, the tolerance of a Bible-based faith has gone into decline and those who continue to profess and practice it will face instances of persecution.
Reports from missionaries in Afghanistan and in China reveal that Christians there have worked hard to memorize as much Scripture as they can… able, in many instances, to recite entire books of the Bible. If you suddenly had your copies of the Bible taken from you, whether from your bookshelves, coffee table, or cellphone, would you be able to call to mind enough of the Word of God you really need to sustain you? Pray that Congress and the Supreme Court would do all necessary to protect religious liberty in the United States, yet make an effort to increase your Scripture memory program.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 14-17
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
