There are two passages assigned for today!

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 44
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. [Psalms 44:17-18]
The author of this psalm is crying out to God in a time of unjust persecution.
But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep. [Psalms 44:22]
God’s followers are being attacked and mistreated and God seems to be doing nothing about it.
Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?[Psalm 44:23-24]
What is going on, is God sleeping, has God rejected us, is God ignoring us and our suffering?
These are bold accusations, is the psalmist giving up on God?

Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [Matthew 24:9-13]
Jesus warns His followers that times will come when bad things will happen to them because of their commitment to Him.
But for His sake… Because we are His followers.
Though I have sometimes felt a little negativity as a follower of Jesus, I have never been arrested, persecuted or killed; but this is still happening around the world.
Check out http://www.persecution.net/ for more information.
I am certain that many Jesus-followers feel abandoned, ignored, rejected.
Yet I am also struck by the fact that often those who go through these trials seems to have a stronger faith than I do – go figure!
Yes, for some their love grows cold, but there are many who endure to the end!

Though I am not being persecuted right now, this psalm compels me to remember those who are, to pray on their behalf: Rise up! Help them! Ransom them because of Your unfailing love. [Psalms 44:23-26]
The early missionary Paul picks up on the words of Psalm 44:22, and then stresses that God’s unfailing love with ransom and secure them:
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:35-39]

PRAYER:
Lord, remind me today of Your unfailing love. But remind especially those who right now are being persecuted for Your sake, because they follow You. Rise up! Help them! Ransom them because of Your unfailing love.