“He That Goeth Forth…”
“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Within that reality, to what tasks are we being called as followers of Christ? I believe the word we may all be searching for in relationship with our Christian brothers and sisters who are on the “firing lines” of the faith is…empathy. We must not only understand the meaning of the word, but we must ask ourselves how, with God’s help, can such be applied in our service to those who are afflicted by persecution for having publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus? Either way, this more firmly establishes the love-bond between us, as His followers, and our eternal loving Creator God.
We must also come to understand our servant role when ministering to persecuted believers, while endeavoring to “live vicariously” or “walk a mile in our brothers’ shoes.” No matter how it is understood, within the family of God, we are asked to “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
The Scripture verse from Hebrews, included at the beginning of this commentary, may be familiar to you if you’re a regular reader of our VOMC publications, or one who reaches out through VOMC to communicate directly to the incarcerated. More than a Bible verse, Hebrews 13:3 is our motto…a “lamp unto our feet.” It is our VOMC mission guidepost. But the real question is, How can we possibly relate to the power of the words if the verse itself (by inference alone) is so intimidating and challenging? To begin with, “remembering” and self-identifying with prisoners – those who may be undesirable…even dangerous – is not exactly my idea of an ideal scenario.
Not too long ago, my dear mother-in-law (a faithful woman of prayer) presented me with a family heirloom…a reprint of an antique manuscript featuring one of Charles Wesley’s sermons.
Charles and his brother John Wesley were pioneers of the faith in the 1700s and are hereby referenced in a sermon delivered by Charles in Federica, Georgia, on April 11th, 1736. (Charles later preached again in both Savannah, Georgia and at Christ Church in Boston, Massachusetts.) During his famous sermon, Charles referenced Psalm 126:6 which reads: “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (KJV).
According to this passage in Psalms, as pointed out by Charles in the following quote from his sermon notes, we are all called to a life of suffering, the expectations of which are found throughout Scripture:
“[We] are followers of Him who was a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and if any man will come after Him, he must deny himself and take up his cross; he must suffer with his Master, more or less, being like Him, to be made perfect through sufferings. For this very cause are these sufferings permitted, to lead them to higher perfection; they go on their way weeping, that the good seed they bear may yield them more fruit; and that good seed (even all those Christian virtues which are perfected by affliction) shall in due time grow up into a plenteous harvest of rest, and joy, and life eternal.”
As I contemplated and prayerfully considered what these Godly men were saying to me from this sermon, which was preached a couple hundred years ago in the past, I realized that our requirements from the Lord on behalf of those incarcerated for their faith, and/or similarly abused and persecuted, are much greater than originally anticipated. Every believer can expect to share not only in the glory of Christ, but also in His sufferings. One is not easily separated from the other.
How can we here in Canada make such faithful offerings during the days leading up to our Lord’s imminent return? He may send times of testing and trial which we will all inevitably face to a greater or lesser degree at various points in our lives here on earth. Or we may be asked to share in the sufferings of the body of Christ, while addressing the issues of our persecuted brothers and sisters and how to best respond, interact and engage with them.
While doing so, we need to approach those in peril with such compassion as to evoke tears arising from conjoined sorrow and weeping. Not only are we to bear this heavy emotion during a particular occasion (as perhaps during a hospital visit), but in a prayerfully sustaining way throughout the day in order to help our brothers and sisters carry the load. The answer to what the specifics of this faithful response may involve is only to be found in a personal relationship with our Savior and Lord.
As we love compassionately and nonjudgmentally, may we be found faithful as comforters bearing the ministry and fruitfulness of the Holy Spirit.
- Doug
