Small but Significant / 祷告极重要

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Dexu Xia

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May 11, 2019, 3:00:00 AM5/11/19

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Small but Significant

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. 2 Corinthians 1:10–11

The day started out like any other, but it ended as a nightmare. Esther (not her real name) and several hundred women were kidnapped from their boarding school by a religious militant group. A month later all were released—except for Esther who refused to deny Christ. As my friend and I read about her and others who are being persecuted for their faith, our hearts were moved. We wanted to do something. But what?

When writing to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul shared about the trouble he experienced in the province of Asia. The persecution was so severe that he and his companions “despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). However, Paul was helped by the prayers of believers (v. 11). Though the Corinthian church was many miles away from the apostle, their prayers mattered and God heard them. Herein lies an amazing mystery: the sovereign One has chosen to use our prayers to accomplish His purpose. What a privilege!

Today we can continue to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith. There’s something we can do. We can pray for those who are marginalized, oppressed, beaten, tortured, and sometimes even killed for their belief in Christ. Let’s pray for them to experience God’s comfort and encouragement and to be strengthened with hope as they stand firmly with Jesus. By Poh Fang Chia

Reflect & Pray

Who can you commit to praying for by name this week? When have you experienced God’s faithfulness during a time of persecution?

In prayer, we cast ourselves at the feet of divine power.

祷告极重要

我们指望祂将来还要救我们。你们也要一同用祈祷来帮助我们。-哥林多后书1章10-11节，和合本修订版

那是很寻常的一天，跟平常没两样，但结果却成了一场梦魇。艾丝特和其他数百名女性被一个圣战组织从寄宿学校掳去。一个月后，所有人都被释放，除了艾丝特以外，因为她拒绝背弃基督信仰。我和朋友读到她和许多人因信仰遭受迫害，我们的心都深受感动，很想为她们做点什么，但是能做些什么呢？

使徒保罗写信给哥林多教会时，提到自己在亚洲地区遭遇的患难。当时他和同工们遭受严酷的逼迫，“甚至连活命的指望都绝了”（哥林多后书1章8节），但保罗却因信徒的代祷得到帮助（11节）。虽然哥林多教会离保罗甚远，但他们仍能为他祷告，上帝也垂听他们的祈求。其中蕴藏的惊人奥秘就是：这位至高者能用我们的祷告，完成祂的旨意。这正是祂赐给我们的殊荣！

今天，我们可以关心那些因信仰而遭逼迫的主内弟兄姐妹。他们因信基督而被排挤、欺压、殴打、凌虐，有时甚至遭到杀害，我们能做的就是为他们祷告。让我们继续为他们祈求，好叫他们能持守对耶稣的信心，经历上帝的安慰和鼓励，并因盼望而勇敢刚强。

本周你要为谁提名代祷？
你为信仰遭逼迫的时候，
何时经历上帝的信实呢？