“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” – 2 Timothy 3:12
Ratna Mandi is a 21-year-old woman from Odisha, India. She has suffered from a urinary blood disease since she was 18. Two of those years she spent depressed and getting weaker; she was finally unable to work. Her family reached out to dozens of doctors, well-known magicians, spending thousands of dollars to heal her; nothing worked.
Thinking she would never heal, Ratna attended a church service secretly as a last resort. Coming up to the pastor, she told him of her disease and asked for prayer. The pastor blessed the water and gave it to her as he and other church members prayed over her. Three days later, Ratna miraculously healed from all pain and her weakness left.
Days after Ratna’s healing, her mother had pain all over her body. Months later, Ratna said to her mother, “you know that I suffered for years, and I was healed. If you don’t mind, come with me to church just once.” Her mother agreed to go, receiving the same prayer and anointment from the pastor.
In disbelief, her pain healed almost immediately. Ratna’s elder sister, Daimati, saw her mother’s and sister’s healing, and she and her four daughters also believed in Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, 2020.
Their conversions began unsettling the village’s Hindu leaders. On February 14, 2021, 11 villagers interrupted church service to find Ratna and her family. “You are a Hindu girl who should not be going to church. Leave this place and never come back!” Rajat, a Hindu priest, said.
“When I was sick for three years, no one came to see me. I thought I would die with no hope, but I am fully healed and alive by the grace of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I will never leave him at any cost,” Ratna responded.
The men and her father forcefully brought Ratna, her mother, the pastor, and his wife, to the police station. “This woman, Ratna, has converted to Christianity and is trying to involve others in her religion. Arrest her!” Police heard Ratna’s story, confirming it with her father.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police responded to her, “your healing is good, but now if you continue to go to church, you will face rejection from your community, and I will be forced to take action.”
Ratna told the ASI, none of these people cared about her when she was sick; Rajat did not take her to the hospital or visit. “Even if I die, I will not go back to temple,” Ratna told him. Scolding her, “You have no right to follow that foreign god,” the ASI said. “I will send you to jail if you continue.” Hearing Ratna’s refusals, Ratna’s father disowned her. Ratna now lives with her sister, her four nieces, and her mother, cut off from support.
However, despite their circumstances, Ratna said, “[God] cured me. I will believe and serve Him alone”.
The Lord can bring good out of persecution. Today in prayer, pray for those who face persecution today for the faith in Jesus Christ.
"Affliction is the best book in my library." - Martin Luther
God’s Word: “Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” – John 15:20
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2021, Devotional E-Mail
DEVOTIONS IN 2 TIMOTHY †