Category: Life in Christ

Morning Reading: Acts 21:26-36 NLT – mobbed in Jerusalem

Reading: Acts 21:26-36 NLT

So Paul went to the Temple [in Jerusalem] the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them.

The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple — and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

Paul bound in chains
Paul bound with chains

The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Counting the cost… paying the price for Christian witness… and running afoul of our cultures and communities… it’s not for the faint of heart. Holy Spirit – Make us people who are “fit for the Kingdom”… people who don’t look back but press on, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. Lord Jesus – Give us the courage and equanimity to take up the particular crosses you have given us… and follow you daily. May you be glorified in us and through us. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Take Up Your Cross” – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Please pray for Christians in Algeria – World Watch List #29

Algeria womanALGERIA (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #29 (Open Doors UK)

Population: 36.5 million (25,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Algeria is increasingly the scene of terror attacks as a result of growing Islamism in the region. The government is pressurised by al-Qaeda in the Maghreb to implement more Islamic legislation, to the detriment of the country’s Christians, most of whom are from a Muslim background. The young Algerian church faces discrimination from family and the state. Islamist groups, encouraged by the Arab Spring, are becoming more visible and monitor Christian activity. In 2012, threats against churches and Christians increased.

Protestant Berber men pray during a mass at a church in the Berber capital of Tizi Ouzou, 60 miles east of Algeria's capital Algiers, in 2010 (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra )
Protestant Berber men pray during a mass at a church in the Berber capital of Tizi Ouzou, 60 miles east of Algeria’s capital Algiers, in 2010 (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra )

PLEASE PRAY:

  • The government has not registered any new churches since 2008. Pray for house churches who continue to meet, some openly and some in secret
  • A religious law introduced in 2006 particularly restricts Christians. Pray that this restrictive law will be abolished
  • For Christian women. Imprisonment of women and pressure from religious leaders to divorce Christians is common.
Algerian Protestants want their churches back
Algerian Protestants want their churches back

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS: Major protests in 2011 against Algeria’s authoritarian regime, in which five people died and over 800 were injured, did not bring about a regime change. The military government is still largely in place.

The oppression of Christians has been constant and systemic throughout all spheres of life. Newly issued legislation such as Ordinance 06-03 particularly restricts Christians. Imprisonment of women and pressure from village elders and imams to divorce Christians is common. Persecution is increasing: in 2012, the church in Ouargla was attacked and a Christian lady kidnapped and threatened. The government has not registered any new churches since February 2008 so ‘house churches’ continue to meet, some openly and some in secret. The Algerian Protestant Church (EPA) finally obtained registration in 2011, but no real freedom resulted. The future of the church will depend a great deal on the political situation.

Algerian believer faces loss of inheritance
Algerian believer faces loss of inheritance

MORE BACKGROUND:  Persecution in Algeria takes many forms: verbal and physical abuse, denigration and slander in the media from Islamist parties, forced divorce, and most recently, the loss of family inheritance under a law inspired by the Islamic Sharia. This is the case for Algerian believer named Mecheri Benslama (Open Doors USA).

Mecheri Benslama is a 55 year old Christian from Laghouat, a town in the north of Algeria. He risks losing the share of his inheritance because of his faith. In January, his Muslim brother brought a court case against him, using the Algerian family law. His brother aimed to deprive Mecheri from all family heritages. The law he used to do that is a law that was adopted in 1984. Article 138 of this law stipulates that an apostate (someone who leaves Islam) cannot inherit from a Muslim. On top of this case, his brother filed another complaint accusing Mecheri of offending the prophet of Islam and the Quran and wanting to convert members of the family, taking advantage of the absence of the Muslim brother filing the complaint.

Mecheri is part of a church that has around hundred members. His pastor Mahmoud is spiritually supporting Mecheri in this difficult time. Mahmoud tells us this isn’t the first time Mecheri received accusations: “previously he was summoned by the police on complaints of apostasy: they asked him to confess Mohammed and Allah, but he refused, telling them that he was a Christian.”

For Mahmoud, this case is yet another injustice committed against Christians in Algeria: “It is an injustice to disinherit someone because he does not share the same religious beliefs. The situation is due to lead to a family tragedy “says the pastor.

Morning Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT – respecting differences / preserving unity

Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT

After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.

The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

unity“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.

“As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – you love variety… you infused variety into every aspect of creation. You made us all wonderfully different from one another… different languages, cultures, races, statures, and religious traditions. Lord Jesus – you have broken down the walls that separate us from one another through your death on the cross. Bring us together in a unity of faith… believers who repent of their sins, receive your forgiveness and mercy, and live life to the full according to your grace. Holy Spirit – fill us anew with your presence and power. Produce your good fruit in us and manifest your gifts among us that we might experience the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… and so respect and rejoice the wonderful variety among us. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “We Are United in Jesus Christ” – Carol Cymbala

Morning Reading: Acts 21:1-13 NLT – heart-breaking prophecies

Reading: Acts 21:1-13 NLT

After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem. When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home.

The Prophecy of Agabus by Louis Cheron (1660-1713)
The Prophecy of Agabus
by Louis Cheron (1660-1713)

The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day. The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Prayer: No turning back, Lord, whatever the cost. No turning back. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I have decided to follow Jesus”

The Park Forum – devotional options for people on the go

‘IT CAN’T BE ABOUT ME.’ —Bethany Jenkins, in Central Park
‘IT CAN’T BE ABOUT ME.’
—Bethany Jenkins, in Central Park
Peanut Gallery: Are you looking for something thoughtful and fresh to spice up your devotional life?

Check out The Park Forum click here.

Our Mission. As the Park is to the City, so the Word is to Life. This is what we believe about the Bible – that we can rest, play and run in the Word. We exist to promote Bible engagement in the urban church on a daily basis by creating short and smart materials – for individuals and small groups.

Our Unique Small Group Curriculum. Subway Series. The Subway Series is our unique small group curriculum that provides regular quiet times of 750 words or less – the same word limitation as op-eds in the New York Times. For more information, see here.

Our Daily Urban Devotional. 843 Acres. In 400 words or less, 843 Acres provides a reflection on one of two daily readings taken from the M’Cheyne Reading Plan. For more information, see here.

The video below is an introduction.