Sycamore

This article gives details about the beheading of two young boys by Islamic extremists looking for their father, who is a pastor in Somalia.

Pray for this family, and for the persecuted in Somalia and across the world.  The Bible says that these are our very brothers and sisters who are dying.

And for those of you who (naturally) would like to avoid details about such a horrific event, I’d encourage you to read the article anyway.  I once heard a message by John Piper (that I just spent ten minutes trying to find) in which he mentioned that he consistently takes time to expose himself to the realities of what persecution looks like - even to the point of watching videos of beheadings.  Why?  Because it reminds Him that “taking up your cross daily” isn’t just talk.  In lives like ours, where comfort is easy to come by, I think it’s important to stare at what it means to “pay the ultimate cost.”  If Christ is our King, we should remember what it cost Him, and what it today costs some of his followers, if we want to be counted in their number.