MY ACCOUNT
At A Glance:
Jesus asks for something radically different than what our culture demands: an allegiance that surpasses even our deepest human bonds. In India, Sonia's story of persecution for her faith gives flesh and blood to Jesus' challenge.
- Sonia kept her faith secret for years, but when she returned to her village in Chhattisgarh, a mob demanded she renounce Jesus.
- When she refused, her father declared her dead and Sonia was exiled with only the clothes on her back.
- Yet Sonia says, “No love is greater than the love of Christ.”
Sometimes, Jesus says things that stop you cold. For me, one of those passages has always been Matthew 10:37: "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
It's a hard verse to read, isn't it? Our culture tells us to prioritize family above all else. But Jesus asks for something radically different: an allegiance that surpasses even our deepest human bonds. He's asking for total devotion.
What does that look like in real life? What does it truly mean to love Jesus more than our own family? I found an answer in the story of a young woman named Sonia, persecuted for her faith in India. Her story gave flesh and blood to this challenging passage.
A Choice Between Family and Faith
Sonia’s story shows what Jesus is talking about.
Sonia found faith at a Christian hostel after experiencing what she describes as a miraculous healing. She kept it secret for years. But when she returned to her village in Chhattisgarh, word spread quickly. Hundreds gathered and demanded she renounce Jesus. Someone threw a Bible on the ground and ordered her to step on it.
She refused.
Her father slapped her. Then he performed her funeral ceremony for her while she was still standing there – breaking a clay pot and washing his hands to declare her dead to the family. That night, Sonia was exiled from the village with only the clothes on her back. Her family has not contacted her since.
And yet Sonia says, “No love is greater than the love of Christ.”
What Are We Willing to Lose?
Sonia lost her family. They held a funeral for her. And still, she found a love that held her up in exile.
Most of us will not face that kind of loss. But we are still called to die to something: comfort, approval, the quiet deals we make to keep following Jesus “safe.”
I want to believe I would have refused to step on that Bible. I also know how easy it is, in our context, to drift into a faith that costs almost nothing. Sonia’s story forces the question: what are we actually willing to lose for Him?
Caring for Our Persecuted Family
So what do we do with Sonia's story?
First, we pray. We pray for persecuted believers like Sonia to have the courage to stand strong in their faith. But we also pray for ourselves – that we would have a bold faith like Sonia. We ask the Lord to deepen our love for Jesus, so He becomes the most important thing in our lives.
But we also act on behalf of our Church family around the world. In India, that means getting Bibles into the hands of persecuted Christians like Sonia so they can stand firm in the Gospel in times of trial. And when believers face legal consequences for their faith, your generosity helps cover the costs of legal counsel and practical support so they are not left to carry that burden alone.
These aren't grand gestures. They're small acts of solidarity. They're ways of saying to our brothers and sisters around the world: We see you, and we stand with you.
And they're ways of challenging ourselves. Every Bible we send. Every legal fee we cover. Every prayer we pray – it's a declaration that we, too, are willing to lose something for Jesus. Not as much as Sonia. But something.
That's where we start. That's how we answer her challenge.
They are family, not just a cause Will you stand when it matters most?
We often treat persecution as a distant issue until we see the faces, like Sonia's. It’s time to move from sympathy to solidarity. Become a Frontline Partner today and ensure our persecuted family never faces the fire alone.
