“As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” Romans 8:36 HCSB

“Because of You we are slain all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Psalms 44:22 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/psa.44.22.hcsb

Why were the Old Testament people in psalms being slaughtered? Psalm 44 talked about God rejecting them. The Psalmist refers to God sleeping. God only turned his back on the Israelites if they were worshiping other gods. When God did this the other nations would come in and subdue the Israelites, but when they repented and turned back to God He would turn toward them and drive out the nations. 

So why is Paul now quoting Psalm 44? Why are people in His day being slaughtered for the Lord? Because His Lord, Jesus, was slaughtered for His people. Paul set up this standard. He was there for the stoning of Steven as the first martyr. Because they were Christians they were being put to death. 

The Christians were also slaughtering their own flesh as a living sacrifice to God. They would be killing any desires in themselves to be obedient to the fleshly desires. And they were living according to the spirit and not the flesh.

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/rom.12.1-2.hcsb

Today, we have brothers and sisters around the world who face the same persecution from the world. They hide out in secrete churches and are in constant fear of being killed, but this fear does not drive them to hide, but to grow closer to God. They share one bible among them and they are committed to the Lord. They are killing the flesh and living by the Spirit. We, however, have never faced this same kind of persecution they face and we have so many “christians” that have never sacrificed their flesh, but they feed it and snuff out the Spirits fire inside them. But because they go to church they think they are fine. 

Please don’t be a “christian” who have never made Jesus Lord of your life. Be a Christian who obeys his or her Lord. 

“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great! ””

Luke 6:46-49 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.6.46-49.hcsb

Build your life upon the Rock of Jesus and his word so that when persecution comes to America, it will happen, you will be ready to face the attacks the world will throw at The Church of Jesus.