Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Heb. 13:3
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Pet. 3:13-17
The passage in 1 Peter was my theme verses as I graduated from high school…4 years ago (there, I dated myself!). Never did I see them incarnated in human form than the night in a Beijing hotel room when I met and prayed with two leaders in the Chinese underground church. One had been running from the police for four years, never able to go home to her family. In these faces shone the courage and simple faith of believers who lived the reality of the above passages every single day.
Since then some of my Chinese friends have been arrested. One friend’s father has been in and out of prison and news reaches us so slow that sometimes I am not certain how he is–but we pray all the same to the All-knowing One. And we thank Him for what He has given to us and vow to not take our Bibles, our freedom, our families for granted.
I highly encourage all of you to visit Prisoner Alert to view brothers and sisters all over the world being imprisoned for their faith. You can sent them a letter of encouragement in their own language, write to the officials in charge of their incarceration, and help spread the word to your friends and family.
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