It has been around 2 months since I got to go to church. I watched sermons on YouTube, but it wasn’t the same as being there in person. I didn’t connect with the worship a lot of the time. It was harder to focus and pay attention to what the pastor said. But this Sunday I get to go to church again!!
Getting to go to church is something I’ve taken for granted. Until a few months ago I could go to church every Sunday. I could choose to go or not to go. I could hear and sing praise songs with live, in-person music and surrounded by other believers. I didn’t have to sneak to church like in some countries. I didn’t have to hide what I was doing.
In many countries, being a Christian means persecution. It might even be illegal. People could be arrested for going to church. Some people aren’t allowed to have a Bible. People have underground churches to meet with other believers taking the chance that they could be arrested every time they meet. Some people are scared to admit that they’re believers because they don’t know what will happen to them if they do. They could be shunned from their family and/or community. They could be arrested. They could even be killed. They don’t have the option of going to church every Sunday (or other day of the week) without the chance that they’ll suffer consequences.
I have the opportunity to go to some countries where Christianity isn’t widely accepted. I get to share God’s Word and show His love to people who might not get to hear God’s Word very often. I might get to witness to people who are scared to follow God. Roman Catholicism is big in a lot of the countries in Central and South America, but in Asia, many countries don’t have a very big Christian population. God has given me an amazing opportunity.
I need to be thankful for all of the times that I get to go to church! I should be thankful that I can freely read my Bible. I’ve tried to read my Bible every day, but I sometimes fail at that. I read a short section so that I can say that I read my Bible for the day. People in other countries would be so excited to get a Bible and would devour the words in the Bible. I should be thankful that I can freely read my Bible! Sometimes I feel like I have to make myself pray. I should be thankful that I can pray at home and in public without fear that I might be arrested or worse. I hope and pray that God helps me to not take those things for granted. God has blessed me so much!
