Paper vs Phone

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, or correction, and for training in righteousness..." 2 Timothy 3:16.

It's amazing the effect the Bible has on a Muslim reader or listener. My friend burst into sobs the moment he started reading 1 John 3 about the Father's love...clearly from a deep longing for this kind of love. It reminded me of this previous truth again. Sadly, others are very afraid of hearing or reading anything from the Bible. Praise God, others are curious and welcome reading. We've seen with our own eyes that some seriously want a Bible after reading a passage like Matthew 5(The Beatitudes). I was reading from the New Testament regularly with an Ismaili Muslim and he was absorbing it. When his community who had sponsored them to Canada found out, they kept him busy in their 'Ibadat Khanah'(place of worship). So, we discontinued reading. Furthermore, his wife really just wanted to be a secular woman with a little bit of religion.

When I meet Muslim friends at coffee shops or the Food Court, I usually carry a small case with a Bible, some literature, and Jesus dvd's. When there is an opportunity, I read some appropriate verses. But when I visit them in their homes, it's awkward since I don't carry a purse. So, I sometimes stuff a New Testament in my pocket. And I've frequently read verses off the phone. Which is better?

I can think back numerous times when I've visited a home with Joy. She normally carries a Bible in her purse. Women who know her well, expect that at some point she will bring out her Bible. Reading from a book has a significantly greater impact than off the phone. Since Muslims revere the Qur'an so much, they somehow revere the Bible too. So when a verse is read from 'the book', they listen and accept that as truth.

Reading the same verse off the phone doesn't carry the same weight. Talking about the Bible but not reading from it can sometimes trip negative reactions and intense discussions or arguments. There is much to be said for making the Bible our main source--and to read from a paper copy. I've discovered that there are 3 situations when most Muslim friends will not interrupt or challenge something--while the Bible is being read, a testimony of how God has answered prayer or changed our lives, or in praying for them in person.

When it comes to discipleship, the Bible is very important. Islam allows situational ethics that need to be corrected. For example, lying or pretending is encouraged if it defends Islam or smooths relationships. Honor is very important in Muslim countries and to be shamed is avoided at all costs. These are clearly not New Testament values. It's never OK to compromise.

Through the Bible we get to know Jesus. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to transform our minds and hearts. We get tremendous comfort from reading it. I want to communicate to both Muslims and Christians that the Bible is important to me. And one way of showing that is to refer to it often.

Dear God, thank-you for your powerful life-changing Word. Help me to communicate its message to a world in crises. Amen.

Investing in Relationships

"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property..." Matthew 25:14.

I had a meeting with our financial advisor recently. He has given me good and godly advice for many years regarding some money we've set aside for our retirement. One of principles in investing is 'think long-term'.

From the parable of the 'talents', we see that the master entrusted a sizable amount of money to each of his servants according to their ability to use on his behalf.

Put into modern terms, each of his employees was empowered to invest wisely what the boss gave them.

The main application we can take from this is that each person has been entrusted with unique abilities by God. Some more and some less. None of the gifts he has given are insignificant. They are all important in the kingdom of God. At the end of age, we will meet our 'master', not for judgement and condemnation but for rewards. The best news we can hear is "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

If we can translate this to 'ministry', we like to think of 'long term investment' too. We hope and pray that the 'seed thoughts' we have sown in each Muslim contact's mind would sprout and grow into faith in Jesus. There are obviously different seasons in ministry--starting from the initial befriending and then coming alongside them and caring for them for many years. We have invested not only time in relating but time in praying and tracking with some of our Muslim friends for years and some decades. For those who show no spiritual appetite, we may take a hiatus but check in with them from time to time. We can do this quite naturally when our Muslim friend has experienced a loss or something special.

The Berlin Wall was erected in the dead of night on August 13, 1961 to keep disenchanted East Berliners from leaving. On November 9, 1989, as the Cold War began to thaw across Eastern Europe, the spokesman for the East Berlin's Communist Party announced a change in his city's relations with the West. Starting at midnight that day, he said, citizens of the GDR(German Democratic Republic) were free to cross the country's borders.

The Berlin Wall didn't just come down in one day. There were many years of pressure on the communist government--on both sides of the border. Finally one day, an opening in the wall was allowed and people rushed across. Soon the dreaded wall was demolished. Many took pieces of the Berlin Wall as mementos or to profit from by selling a 'piece of the wall'.

We see that the 'Muslim World' is crumbling and becoming fragmented. With the power of God and the prayer and perseverance of God's people, many Muslims are listening to the Good News. This is a call to all of you reaching out to Muslims--do not grow weary in well-doing, keep on investing, and 'putting pressure on the wall of resistance' with God's help. There will be a harvest...a great harvest at the end of the age. It has already begun. Praise God.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9.

A Search

Eastern Christians celebrate 'Epiphany' ten days after Christmas Day. They remember the arrival of the 'Wise Men' from the East in search of a new king.

Some time prior to this the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem were terrified by the appearance of an angel surrounded by light one night. He assured them "Don't be afraid...The Savior...has been born today...you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12. With these clues they immediately went to search for him. They figured it out quickly and met this miracle child. "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen..." vs. 20

The actual Epiphany event may have been close to 2 years later. "...About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1b&2

Probably these were Kurdish Astrologers or Astronomers who came along the trade routes of the day through the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. They'd been gazing at this star. Their calculations finally brought them to Jerusalem. King Herod viewed this baby as a threat to his dynasty. He found out from the religious scholars where the Messiah was supposed to be born. With that information the 'Wise Men' set out for Bethlehem and not a GPS but the star directed them to the exact house where Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were staying. They worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts. They were directed in a dream to take a different route home and warned not to report back to Herod.

A variety of Muslims are discovering the real Jesus today. What clues do they go by? Some are assisted in their search by Christian programs or internet sites. Others receive clues from the Qur'an. It confirms what the prophet Isaiah wrote about 1400 or more years before the Qur'an was written. A virgin would give birth to Jesus, the Messiah. Perceptive Muslims observe, "This was no ordinary prophet."

In recent months an educated young man living in a Muslim country was on such a search. He stumbled across the Apostles Creed (click) on the internet and began to understand who Jesus is. His search led him to a 'Muslim friendly' website in Canada that helped him to discover the truth in the Bible. We connected with him and were able to direct him from a distance. God confirmed his search by several dreams. In fact, he wrote us that one of his dreams was identical to a dream described in 'I Dared to Call Him Father' (click). It was a victorious day when he wrote "I am a follower of Jesus." and again when he wrote "I was baptized today. I am starting a new life."

We read in 'Daily Bread' a few weeks ago that people respond in different ways to the coming of Jesus--some reject the message. Some ignore the message as many in our Western cultures do and others welcome Jesus.

"For those who make room for Jesus in their hearts, God makes room for them in heaven." (Daily Bread)

Lord God, reward all those on a search for truth to find you. Amen.