DAILY MANNA WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH, 2020 – MOCKING DEATH

DAILY MANNA

WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH, 2020

         MOCKING DEATH

TEXT:MATTHEW 10:16-33

KEY VERSE:”And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (MATTHEW 10:28).

 A study reported that eleven Christians die every day worldwide for their uncompromising decision to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. According to the in-depth investigative research documented in _Open Doors' 2019 World Watch List,_ these principled believers experience intense persecution before passing on to be with their Redeemer in heaven.

 The report ranks "ten most dangerous places where saying 'yes' to following Jesus is truly a life-or-death decision". There are altogether fifty such nations where there is communal and official hostility to true biblical Christianity.

 Has that stopped the spread of the gospel of our Lord Jesus? Has it held back new converts? Has it prevented believers from open evangelism? It cannot because sincere followers know the infallible teachings of the Master with regard to martyrdom.

 The case of the hunted and pestered Christian is akin to what Moses beheld in the desert of Horeb: the fire burned the bush but the bush was not consumed. Later, the early Church under the apostles in Jerusalem flourished despite unmitigated oppression resulting in beatings, denial of rights, imprisonment and death.

 Today's Christians cannot escape similar hostilities as predicted by our Lord. His word will always come to pass. But as we must "through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God", so are we to enjoy the commendation of Christ before His Father in heaven. As we confess Him before men through holy living, winning souls and focus on heaven, we will not tremble at threats of death. Instead, we mock death and those threatening us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The true believer mocks death when his faith is threatened with the sword.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NUMBERS 33-34