Boko Haram is a radical Islamic sect birth in Nigeria for Nigerians. Or how else can I define this group that has now become an embarrassment to Northern leaders and a nuisance to the Nigerian government?
It is gradually becoming a movement with ideologies that seem outrageous and nonsensical. They have claimed responsibility for many violent attacks in Northern Nigeria, resulting in many deaths. This group is a terrorist group and loves to be addressed as such. They claim to have links with Al Qaeda.
Since they’ve focused their terror on “their own people” in the North of Nigeria for now, most Christians in the South seem remotely perturbed.
But imagine Boko Haram sending a letter to your church today, notifying you all of an imminent attack, how will you respond? Will you say, “Don’t mind those rascals, they can’t do it Or will you skip church services for a season? Will their activities and threats weaken or strengthen the Nigerian Church?
Can Boko Haram “bless” the Nigerian Church with good doses of persecution and jolt us out of our slumber? Should they? Someone somewhere is marked for death today because of their faith in Christ. In that community, it is normal.
If this offends you, I understand. The quest for ease and gain has made persecution one of the most misunderstood, hated and debated topics in many Christian circles today. However, persecution for any true disciple of Christ is as sure as death.
“Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].” 2Timothy 3:12 Amp
If you don’t experience persecution regularly, it is probably because: 1) You live in a place where everyone is like you, comfortable with status quo; 2) You are a “Chameleon Christian” blending-in successfully everywhere, just minding “your own business”; or 3) People don’t recognize you as a disciple of Jesus because the light you shine is so weak, they can’t differentiate colors [sin] with it and like a grave without a sign, you are walked-over.
I’m of the view that if Boko Haram or any other group were to visit the Christians in Nigeria with persecution, our disposition to life and love for the Lord will be challenged and subsequently changed for better. We’ll be living each day as our last.
So should we go around looking for persecution? No! It will find us if we truly belong to Christ. Persecution purifies our faith. Our true spiritual state is revealed during such trying seasons.
Yet Jesus enjoins us to rejoice in persecution and look forward to our reward in heaven when we suffer for Him– Matthew 5:10-12 and we see Hebrews 10 ending with some very powerful remarks and reminders.
To endure persecution with gladness, we must understand that our pain and/or losses are a testament to God’s victory and a manifestation of Satan’s defeat. We must see the big picture as God’s glory is displayed on account of our suffering as it was for Jesus. Oh when He says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 He means it!!
My earnest prayer is that, when persecution comes, it will be for all the right reasons, and we will accept it as a gift from the heart and hands of a loving Savior who suffered greatly for all sinners (even those that crucified Him) because He loved them more than He loved Himself.
Please can you take a few minutes now and pray for beloved disciples of Jesus suffering on account of their faith, especially in lands where Jesus is defamed and rejected? It may be your turn tomorrow.
Don’t forget to pray for their persecutors. We will see some of them in heaven.
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 
LikeLike
LikeLike
LikeLike