November 5 Devotion - When justice and mercy seem absent

Over 215 Million Christians are persecuted around the world because of their faith. Last Friday there was an attack on a bus transporting Christians to a monastery in Egypt killing 7 and wounding 14. Egypt is rated #17 amongst the list of 50 countries where Christians are facing extreme to high levels of persecution. A rise in violent attacks in Egypt caused the death of 128 Christians in 2017 and left many wounded. Several churches were destroyed. Every time the church has faced persecution, it has also been purified and made stronger. God never intends for suffering to defeat us. Rather, His purpose is for it to make us holy and effective witnesses for Christ.

Jesus said: Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

أليس عصفوران يباعان بفلسوواحد منهما لا يسقط على الارض بدون ابيكم

Matthew 10:29

To all the Christians who are persecuted because of their faith, or are in fear of persecution, to all who have reasons to be afraid; let us put our trust in our God and remember that He is in control and Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

مِنْ إِحْسَانَاتِ الرَّبِّ أَنَّنَا لَمْ نَفْنَ، لأَنَّ مَرَاحِمَهُ لَا تَزُولُ. 23 تَتَجَدَّدُ فِي كُلِّ صَبَاحٍ. فَائِقَةٌ أَمَانَتُكَ.

Lamentations 3:22-23

God we pray to You as Asaph prayed to You in Psalm 74:

20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. ²² Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. ²³ Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

ذْكُرِ الْعَهْدَ الَّذِي قَطَعْتَهُ لَنَا، فَإِنَّ الظُّلْمَ كَامِنٌ فِي كُلِّ رُكْنٍ مُظْلِمٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ. ²¹ لَا تَدَعِ الْمُنْسَحِقَ يَرْجِعُ بِالْخِزْيِ، بَلْ لِيُسَبِّحِ اسْمَكَ الْفَقِيرُ وَالْبَائِسُ. ²² قُمْ يَا اللهُ وَدَافِعْ عَنْ دَعْوَاكَ. اذْكُرْ كَيْفَ يُعَيِّرُكَ الْجَاهِلُ طُولَ النَّهَارِ. ²³ لَا تَنْسَ أَصْوَاتَ خُصُومِكَ، فَإِنَّ ضَجِيجَ الثَّائِرِينَ عَلَيْكَ يَتَصَاعَدُ دَائِماً.

Let us seek encouragement despite the awful reality as Asaph did when he wrote in verse 12:

But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.

إِنَّمَا اللهُ مَلِكِي مُنْذُ الْقَدِيمِ، صَانِعُ الْخَلاَصِ فِي وَسَطِ الأَرْضِ.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself and for others:

Abba Father, great is Thy faithfulness. God You care so much about the sparrows, how can I even think that You will not take care of Your people. Lord, I pray for all those who are mourning and in fear and worry, fill their hearts and mine with trust in You and a deep knowledge that Your compassions fail not, and they are renewed every morning. Strengthen us all God that we may say: When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in You. ⁴ In God, whose word I praise; In God I have put my trust; I shall not fear. What can mere man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4   Abba Father, thank You that Your deep steadfast love endures forever. I pray In Jesus’ name and I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.  

فِي يَوْمِ خَوْفِي أَتَّكِلُ عَلَيْكَ. 4 تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ الَّذِي أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى كَلاَمِهِ، فَلَا أَخَافُ. مَاذَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَصْنَعَ بِي الْبَشَرُ؟

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein