…for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Philippians 1:19 NIV
Deliverance
A couple held hostage for five years by a Taliban-linked network and forced to raise three children while in captivity were initially targeted for ransom because of the impending birth of their first child, the Canadian man at the heart of the case speculated. Joshua Boyle said he and his wife, Caitlan Coleman, heard at least half a dozen reasons why they had been snatched from a village in Afghanistan and held against their will by the Haqqani network over the years they were imprisoned. They were released on October 12, 2017.
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It is estimated that more than 380 million Christians currently suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. In Open Doors’ World Watch List top 50 alone, 310 million Christians face very high or extreme levels. How do we, living in the freedom that Canada offers for followers of Jesus, respond to this? We find some help in dealing with this in Philippians 1:19: “…for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Paul is writing to the Corinthians while imprisoned for his faith. He is so grateful for the support of the Corinthian believers. They were praying for him, and because of their prayers, Paul knew that the Holy Spirit was at work. Their prayers also boosted Paul’s faith, which was sustaining him and giving him hope. When the persecuted believers know that we are praying for them, their faith is bolstered, too. Take time to pray for the millions of your brothers and sisters around the world who are imprisoned for Jesus today.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley