True stories for children

 

~ 9 ~

Her All for Him 

 

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Anila lived in Pakistan, a nation where most people were Muslims. She knew that it could be dangerous to talk about Jesus. But she also knew that her wonderful Lord had asked her to share His love with the lost and lonely. She, like His disciples, wanted to follow Him. She couldn't turn back, even if it would cost her life.

So she told her friend, Perveen, about Jesus and His death on the cross.  Perveen dared to believe and she gave her life to God. The two teenagers became sisters in Christ, and they loved to read the Bible and sing Christian songs together. Perveen even taught some of the songs to her little sister.

When Perveen's parents found out that their daughter had given her life to God, they became furious.  They believed that conversion to Christianity brought shame to the family. When she refused to conform to the Muslim ways, her angry brother stabbed her to death,

You might think that such a horrible murder would be punished by the police, but that didn't happen. In Pakistan and other Muslim cultures, the police often allow family members to kill their child, brother or sister who has embarrassed them by becoming Christian. 

But the police had already arrested Anila.  She was imprisoned, beaten and tortured for sharing her faith. But God didn't forsake her. While thousands of Christians in America and around the world prayed for her, God caused the officials in her city to set her free. But her hometown was no longer a safe place for her Christian family. Since many angry Muslims still wanted to kill the brave girl and her family, they have had to hide.

Anila is glad she could serve God and share His love. She misses Perveen but knows that her friend is happy in heaven with Jesus. The world may continue to persecute her, but she knows that Jesus will comfort and care for her as long as she lives here on earth. And when she has finished everything He has planned for her, she will be forever in heaven with Him -- and with Perveen and all the other saints who have given their lives to Him. What could be better?

"I have seen the world," she says, "and it has nothing good. Jesus is my only peace."

 

God's Word: 

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...."    Philippians 3:20-21

"These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

 

 Let's talk about it:

1. Why did Anila tell her friend about Jesus?

2. What does Philippians 3:20-21 tell us about heaven? 

3. What does John 16:33 promise those who trust and follow God? 

 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’

sake. . . Rejoice and be exceedingly glad...”

Matthew 5:10,12

The true story about these teenage martyrs who gave their lives to serve Jesus was told in Jesus Freaks: Stories of those who stood for Jesus by DC Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs (Tulsa, OK: Albury Publishing, 1999)

Please pray for the brave Christian children in the Philippines, Pakistan and all the other countries where they face anger and persecution from those who follow other gods. 

You can contact The Voice of the Martyrs through their website:  www.persecution.com

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