CNN reports today: “Gunmen killed a Christian businessman and wounded his nephew in a drive-by shooting in Mosul, police said Monday…At least 900 Christian families have fled in recent days, reportedly frightened by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face possible death, Iraqi officials said.”

As I sit here in my Seminary apartment writing this, with a glass of sweet tea and some pistachios at my side and the NLCS on the TV, I think of the Psalm I read this morning and what a drastically different perspective it takes on tonight as I think of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East: “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:1-2a). And, then I read v. 4 and think of what this Christian businessman’s nephew might tell his kids one day: “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

Friends, let’s be faithful to pray for our family in Iraq - that they will, even now, bless the Lord’s name, that their faithful witness in the face of this persecution would win many a Muslim to Christ, and that these trials may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

With our sweet tea and pistachios and you fill-in-the-blank, let’s not allow the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke away our consistent devotion.

~Adam Graig for the Missions Team