Welcome back Zhuang Mao!!! =)We're really glad to hear that you're back safe. Sorry for taking so long to write... its been a busy week and it doesn't help that I've been down with my injured ankle. Its not easy trying to feel happy when one is injured and hurting.
Thank you for sharing with us what its like over in the Maldives. It was certainly something new to me... the extreme oppression against other religions in that country. I'm doubtful if its 100% Muslim though... on paper perhaps but there's probably a small percentage who believe in other religions, some of whom may be Christians. It may be less than 1% though. It sounds like the situation in China sometime back; thankfully, things have gotten better in the mainland I believe.
I think its a good reminder that many people in this generation still need to have the Gospel preached to them. And I think the bigger question for us is whether we would be willing to leave our homeland and familier surroundings to preach the Gospel wherever God calls us to. Is there a burden on your heart for a country or people group that needs to hear about the Passion of the Christ?Do take time to start prayerfully considering the above brothers and sisters =)
Even back here in Singapore, some of us might be experiencing opression, some way or another.
If you are, the key to overcoming it would be to pray. Get other brothers and sisters to be your prayer supporters too. Romans 8:28-39 says:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[
j] who[
k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[
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37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[
m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Be a Champion for Christ.
You were blessed by EJ
