Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right. God’s kingdom belongs to them. Matthew 5:10

The freedom to worship is something that I have always had living in the United Kingdom. It is also the First Amendment of the American Constitution;

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

However, the bible reminds of a Christians martyrs like Stephen who died for their faith. One of the scenarios the refugee crisis has highlighted is religious persecution. Persecution watchdog group Open Doors reports that in 2016, Muslim refugees attacked some 743 Christian refugees while they were living in camps in Germany.

Open Doors officials say there could be even more unreported cases.

"The documented cases confirm that the situation of Christian refugees in German refugee shelters is still unbearable. As a minority they are discriminated against, beaten up by and receive death threats from Muslim refugees and partly by the Muslim staff (securities, interpreters, volunteers) on grounds of their religion," according to a major survey published by Open Doors Germany in October, representing a number of organizations, such as Persecuted Christians and the Needy, European Mission Society Fellowship, and the Central Council of Oriental Christians in Germany.

"Taking these new cases into consideration there are now 743 Christian refugees who have reported religiously motivated attacks. With more staff at hand, a significantly higher number of cases could have been included in the survey," it added.

The refugees had fled from Syria and other regions, escaping terror groups and the violence from war. Instead, the Christian refugees found violence within what were supposed to be safe camps.

Amos 3:7 councils;

‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.’

Let us keep on praying for persecution of Christians around the world, but at the same time be aware that our time as believers is coming soon.

Our song today is ‘People get ready’. Click on the picture to listen.