105, 219, 345

TITLE: 105, 219, 345
DATE: May 10, 2019
TEXT: Romans 12: 9-13 – ESV -Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
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“Well,  did you survive Easter?”
I remember, when I was just a little feller,  people in the congregation would ask Mom, “Did you survive Easter?” They knew that Mom was usually the hostess for the extended family and putting on a big spread for the whole crew was quite the labor of love.”

 “Well,  did you survive Easter?”
I remember, after I became a Pastor, this was the  question we preachers would throw at each other. Weeks of special Lenten services, a full complement of Holy Week sermons and a Son-rise worship that really began at sunrise was both exhilarating and exhausting.

 “Well,  did you survive Easter?”
With the Easter bombings of churches and hotels, this year that question took on a whole new, and literal, meaning. As of this writing there were eight explosions. Six of the attacks were carried out by seven suicide bombers who were working in conjunction with each other .  So far authorities have arrested 24 people who were connected with the bombings which killed almost 300 individuals. That’s a lot of hatred, and it’s hatred which seems to be spreading.

Do you remember the last time I gave you a homework assignment?

No, I don’t either.

That being the case, I have to share that today there will be a small, a very small homework assignment… a bit of memorization… three numbers. The numbers are   105, 219, 345.

Open Doors, an organization which tracks persecution around the world, uses those numbers, 105, 219, 345 as a monthly average. Now here is what they mean… each month
…105 – Christian churches are burned or attacked
…219 - Christians are detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned.”
…345 – believers are murdered, are unjustly imprisoned beaten, or lose their families;

Now, what I would suggest is this;. As you pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world you remember those three numbers and put them in the prayer. Remember the 105 churches which are gone the spiritual homes which have ceased to exist; remember the 219 Christians whose world is defined by concrete and iron bars and remember the 345 whose lives, in one way or another, are over.

Remember them and ask the Lord to help them survive this Sunday, this week this month. Pray they be given an extra measure of faith and empower them to be faithful to their Savior Who is with them still.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, persecution is all around. Especially this day I remember the 105 places of worship which are no more; the 219 brothers and sisters who have lost their earthy freedom even as they have been given spiritual freedom by the Christ. I remember the 345 who have, even in the face hatred and murder shown their love for the Redeemer. Lord, help them, help to stand firm. In Jesus Name. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this site: and the article written by Jerry Newcombe on April 21, 2019,:

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html