Day 7: North Koreans Will Declare God's Glory to the Nations
I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations…to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. Isaiah 66:19
Open Doors supports North Korean Christians in secret with Bibles, books, education and relief aid. Often we receive thank you letters from North Korean underground church leaders. In each letter they thank the global Church for the support provided through Open Doors and for their love, and they ask for our prayers. In the words of one church leader, "I am very proud to see our believers' faithful lives becoming more and more stabilized. Their lives are in danger every day and still they follow the Lord. This could have not been possible if it wasn't for your endless effort and love towards our believers. Please continue to pray for us.".
North Korean Christians note that even in these dark times, the Kingdom of God is expanding in North Korea. One wrote, "Thank you so much for your dedication and devoted hearts towards our believers. If I look back, I realize how gracious God is for His grace and protection. We couldn't have come this far without the help of our foreign brothers and sisters. Every book that we received has been used effectively. They strengthen the believers and help us in accomplishing God's work. Your books are like fellow travelers on a very lonely road."
In time all will bow down before the one God, the Father of Jesus Christ." This is the source and secret of world peace. "For this is what the LORD says, 'I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.'" (Isaiah 66:12-13) God will continue what he already has begun in North Korea and in His time will use Christians from North Korea to declare His glory among nations!
READ ISAIAH 66:19-20
God is growing and purifying His church among the nations. He is using Open Doors to pray for, encourage and train His church in North Korea. And we in the "free world" are inspired by the faith and courage of His people in North Korea who stand in faithfulness in the midst of severe persecution. God indeed is preparing His church to "declare [His] glory among the nations."
PRAY
Father, thank You that You have called us into Your church along with Christians across the globe. One church, one faith, one God and Father of us all. We praise You for the way You are using Open Doors to encourage and train Your people, our brothers and sisters, in North Korea. Thank you for the encouragement we receive from them as they stand strong and faithful in the midst of their present persecution. Use their example in our lives here in the west as we face our own moments of darkness in this broken and sinful world. Move in our hearts and minds to call us to join with Open Doors in faithfully praying for North Korea, that You would soften the hearts of the leaders to embrace Your gospel; that those who are blinded by the deception of the archenemy, Satan, would hear Your Word and turn to You; and that Your church there would be filled with the light of Your presence and grace each day to face the darkness around them. And move in our hearts, along with Open Doors, to generously supply Bibles and other materials for the strengthening of Your people that they might know you both in Spirit and in truth.
