Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
About every six months, I get an update on a Chinese Christian who has been imprisoned by the Communist regime in China since January 2008. Alimujiang Yimiti has been held without trial since January 2008. He has been accused of leading an unregistered house church and has been charged with breaching national security. If he is found guilty, he will be sentenced to death.
Alimujiang converted from Islam to Christianity which caused resentment in the local community. His enemies fabricated the charges against him, but to date there is still no substantial evidence to make the charges stick. However, the Chinese Communist authorities won’t release Alimujiang because they continue to persecute Christian leaders.
On April 20, his family was allowed to visit with him for the first time since his arrest in January 2008, according to China Aid Association. The family reported that Alimujiang was noticeably thinner but in good spirits. Despite the horrendous conditions and injustice of the situation, Alimujiang and his family still hold dear to their Christian faith. God is their refuge and strength, as well as their ever present help in a time of trouble.
When we compare the hardships that we face with those of Alimujiang and his family, we should feel thankful to God for the religious freedom that we have in our respective countries. His faith is so much stronger than ours; his Christian beliefs have cost him everything.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes we take You for granted and put our faith to the side. Instead of placing You at the center of everything we do and praising You for everything we have, we serve ourselves first and leave You with what’s left over.
Remind us that there are Christians in the world like Alimujiang who suffer for the same faith. We pray for his family and for his freedom, in Your Holy Name. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
If you would like to read more about Alimujiang and other prisoners of faith, please click on the following link: http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_185_profile.html
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