” I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” Revelation 6:9

I realize the verse above refers to a future event where world-wide hatred for followers of Christ is empowered by Satanic passion, but has anyone noticed the smaller scale of hatred for Christians here in 2015. I am horrified by the pictures and videos of Christians being slaughtered in the ISIS controlled areas. Recently, in Kenya’s Garissa University 148 Christian students were martyred by Islamic terrorists. In a time where tolerance is the “catchphrase”, persecuting Christians is becoming “en vogue.”

I am also tremendously humbled. These men and women around the world who have died are my Christian brothers and sisters. I am amazed of their faith and the “reckless” abandon of their own life. They understood that this life is passing and the greater reward is found in the afterlife.

May we remember the words of Jesus,

If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent me. ²³ He that hates me hates my Father also. (John 15:18-23)