“The life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God.”
Christians in rural areas of Vietnam are used to being denied hospital treatment based on their faith. The Voice of Martyrs in Korea (hereinafter referred to as VOM Korea) said, “One of the difficulties faced by some rural believers in Vietnam is that when their Christianity is known to doctors, treatments are either delayed or denied or unaffordable medical expenses are quoted, preventing them from even receiving emergency treatment.”
However, a Christian couple experienced a miracle after praying for God’s help when their daughter with a heart condition was denied life-saving treatment at a local hospital. The local hospital doctor said to the couple an unaffordable amount of surgery cost is required, and another doctor said they would have to sign a significant amount of sincerity as a condition of surgery.
However, Brother Dong rejected both. Instead, he sought help from God as he had learned since childhood, trusting God to guide him. In the village where Brother Dong grew up, Christians are scarce. Most of the highland villagers worship their ancestors, and they set up shrines for deceased relatives and offer food there.
They call Christians ‘traitors who betrayed their ancestors’. Therefore, if something bad happens to a Christian, such as the one being experienced by Brother Dong’s daughter, it is believed to be the punishment from the ancestors. Brother Dong and his wife have often been rejected and insulted by the community just because they are Christians. Even close relatives criticised and did not help.
After marrying Brother Dong, Brother Dong’s wife believed in Jesus, and her family immediately cut off all ties with her. The authorities hired thugs to attack Brother Dong, and he was caught from his hiding and was assaulted. However, he did not retaliate. He understood loving even those who persecuted him was the Lord’s will.
Brother Dong also believed his life was safe in God’s hands. The couple decided to go to a hospital in another region after they prayed for their daughter. The couple worried they might not get help at that hospital, either. However, without asking anything, the doctor immediately started the operation after examining the child. The operation was successful.
The doctor said they didn’t have to pay anything because someone had already paid for the operation. The couple’s prayer to God they prayed when they were in their hometown was answered. Brother Dong said he remembered the words of Psalm 23 at the time. VOM Korea said, “We regularly hear similar stories of miraculous supply of God from Vietnamese Christians in rural areas.” (Source: Christian Today Edited)
Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. (1 Samuel 25:29)
God, we thank for binding Your people being oppressed because of Your name securely in the bundle of Your life. May Your name be glorified through the life of Brother Dong who received the answer from You as he prayed with his family in firm faith in the LORD and not discouraged amid unjust hardships. May You raise more witnesses of the gospel in Vietnam, help them not lose their courage in the LORD in the face of persecution, and strengthen them to witness the living God even more. Let the church of nations pray for this so that Vietnam will be a land where the victory of the cross of Christ is declared.
Prayer 24·365
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