Weekly Devotional 2-3-14 Stand Firm and be Truly Committed
Mehdi Dibaj (1935 – June/July 1994) was an Iranian Christian convert from Sunni Islam, pastor and Christian martyr. Dibaj became a Christian as a young man and joined the Jama’at-e Rabbani Church, the Iranian branch of the Assemblies of God. After the 1979 Iranian revolution he encountered difficulties. In 1983 he was arrested and imprisoned without trial in Sari and systematically tortured. He was finally tried by an Islamic court in Sari on December 3, 1993 and sentenced to death on charges of apostasy. At his trial Dibaj declared: “I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honour of His Holy Name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus my Lord.” Following a worldwide outcry initiated by his friend and colleague Bishop Haik Hovsepian Mehr, Dibaj was finally freed in January 1994, although the death sentence was not lifted. Just three days later Haik Hovsepian Mehr was abducted and murdered. Dibaj was abducted on Friday, June 24, 1994. His body was found in a west Tehran park on Tuesday, July 5, 1994.
At his trial the prosecution stated, “You are a Muslim and you have become a Christian.” To which Mehdi Dibaj answered, “No, for many years I had no religion. After searching and studying, I accepted God’s call and I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. People choose their religion, but a Christian is chosen by Christ. He says, ‘You have not chosen me but I have chosen you.’ People say, ‘You were a Muslim from your birth.’ God says, ‘You were a Christian from the beginning.’ A Christian means one who belongs to Jesus Christ.” (Wikipedia).
As I read about these men, Mehdi Dibaj and Haik Hovsepian Mehr, I reflected on my own life and wondered if I faced the persecution these two men suffered, and if I was given the choice of renouncing Christ or dying for Him, what would I do? It is easy to live the life of a Christian here in the United States, but what if we were to face what these men faced? Would you, would I, stand firm? The answer to these questions lay ahead. We won’t know until we actually face these things, if in fact we ever will. There are presently signs in each of our lives however, that illuminate what we might actually do. One such sign is in how we behave ourselves among those who are not Christian. If we hide our Christianity because we don’t want to seem odd to them it is very probable that we will fail the greater test. Our conduct of life is another sure sign. If we live like the world and not by the discipline of our calling it is also probable that we will fail greater tests.
We would do well to take to heart Jesus’ words to the apostles just before He sent them out on a training mission. They are recorded by Matthew. “24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:24-39 NKJV).
Eventually, after Jesus’ departure back into heaven, eleven of these men would face severe persecution and all but one would die. The eleventh, John, would not be martyred. He would be exiled to the Isle of Patmos. On this mission (of Matthew 10), they were to get a taste of what they would eventually face. Ridicule and hostility was their lot. Their lot is our lot. We, as they, must determine what is most important. Will we serve Jesus no matter the cost or will we compromise our faith? If we compromise in the little things, we will surely fail in the greater things.
Lord, help us to stand firm and be truly committed.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power, The Work of God on Behalf of Men