A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu
2020 is a year of promise. It is a year of opportunity. It is a year of great potential. These affirmations are not simply some new form of “positive thinking.” They are truth. Every decision we make has great potential…for good or evil. Every adopted pathway will lead us closer or further away from the desires we have in our hearts.
The beginning of a new year is an
exciting time. In some sense, we leave behind the previous year and step off
into the prospect of something better.
One thing that can become an obstacle to our opportunities though…is the task of the first step. There is a popular leadership axiom that relates to the “paralysis of analysis.” Some leaders cannot lead because they are fixated on examining every possible outcome before committing. They want to see every option and have every fact “nailed down” before beginning. Truthfully, most never lead because these desires for security are elusive. None of us have all of the information. None of us knows the future perfectly. We can predict. We may even predict well…but only God truly knows.
Other leaders seem to have a Midas touch. They always find opportunities. The experience more than their “fair share” of success. Often, the difference is not related to strategy or ability but initiative. THEY TOOK THE FIRST STEP.
This year, do not allow indecision to deter you. Choose a path and take it. If it is a mistake, turn around and choose a different path. Make a decision. Fulfill YOUR destiny…the thousand-mile journey (if you will) …by acting to take the first step.
Today, I acted toward one of my goals for 2020 which is to read the Bible in its entirety. I have done this many times before. In fact, it is an annual devotional discipline that I incorporated several years ago. However, neither my past achievement nor my future intentions will achieve the goal. So, today I affirmed the decision and read the first four chapters in Genesis. The greatest journey…begins with a single step.
This is the fifth installment of my reflections on a recent trip to South Asia on mission. You can read the previous installments HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. If this is a blessing to you, let me invite you to drop by MY SITE and subscribe to email content to be delivered directly to your inbox whenever it drops. Also, I’d love for you to like and share comments on the posts if you are so inclined. In the ecosystem of social media, your approval helps to ensure that a broader audience can see this information. Yes, a simple click and comment can help spread the good news. Thanks in advance!
One of the debrief questions that a host team asks prior to departing a country is “what stories will you tell?” With so many wonderful experiences, it is always a challenge to zero in on just one or two; however, the question does prompt reflection and calls for a conclusion.
For me, there were several key moments. Watching my
interpreters and sharing team partners move with such boldness and grace would
be one. Time with dear friends sharing a meal would be critical as well. Praying
for sick, injured, anxious, and hurting people is always impactful. In fact,
one such story began this way.
At a home we were visiting, we asked if there was anything we could pray for…an illness or sickness where we might ask God’s mercy on their behalf. The reply was familiar: “No, we are fine. Everything is good.” After thanking God for his blessing, I shared the gospel and stories of hope from the Scriptures. As we were wrapping up, one woman in the home “came clean.” She shared that she had been married for four years but had not conceived. She wanted us to pray for her to have a child.
It was not my first time to pray for this type of request. I
had heard similar stories several times in the week. But this one was special.
The members of our team gathered around this woman to pray, including a
pastor’s wife who was also in the same childless. My heart was grieved. I
thought, “There can be nothing harder for a childless woman than to pray for
God to give another woman a child.” But pray she did. When we finished praying,
my suspicions were confirmed as I saw her wipe a tear from her own eyes.
The image did not leave me. Here is a woman who knew the grace of God personally being challenged to pray that God grant another woman the greatest desire of her own heart! I thought, “What a picture of the fruit of the gospel.” In many circles, there would be jealousy. Or resentment. Or bitterness. For this pastor’s wife, there was only brokenness, grace, and intercession—intercession for God to be merciful toward another woman.
The next day, this pastor and wife asked our team to pray for them, that God would also grant them a child. My commitment was that I would join them in praying daily for God’s mercy in granting them the desire of their heart.
Only a recipient of grace can truly pray for God’s grace toward another. I saw the fruit of the gospel reflected so clearly at this moment and was invited to bear a pastor’s family’s burden with them in the days ahead. What a privilege to partner with them in prayer and know that God hears and loves and always answers according to His own wise counsel. What a privilege to have a front-row seat as God moves.
If you wish to see God grant victories, you must first enter the contest. CMA
I don’t want this to come across in an offensive manner. Honestly that is not my intention; however, I suspect someone may bristle at this observation. Let me apologize in advance for the means but not the message. Westerners, and American Christians, in particular, are becoming increasingly “soft.” We have become so enamored with comfort, ease, compromise, peer-approval and the like, that any obstacle, challenge, resistance, or disapproval is considered “bad.” A false gospel has even taken root in the Christian marketplace promoting a “weird” understanding that if something isn’t easy and doesn’t result in abundantly blessed comfort, it lacks the fingerprints of God’s approval.
Such an idea is foreign to the Scripture; In fact, the
opposite is true. I, for one, was encouraged by the resistance we experienced in
South Asia since I found in it, evidence that we were “on the right track.”
It happened that we were “sharing” during an annual festival season across the country we were working in. During this festival, idols are erected in every village and daily “worship” takes place. All in all, this festival raised the spiritual resistance climate in several unentered places we were “sharing.” On one particular day, I noticed, as we entered an area to share, a man bearing the markings of a radical religious sect. He immediately zeroed in on our group. I was familiar with this sect as I had many dealings with them in another part of the country well-known for its religious persecution. My spidey-sense kicked in and I knew we were in for a treat. This village was the first where our teams were asked to leave and not share Jesus. The next village gave us a similar invitation to leave and still another on the next day.
Why?
Simply stated, the “enemy” hates us because he hates the One whom we serve and speak of. He hates God. This enemy walks about the earth as an intimidating adversary, looking for those he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Demonic forces are real and look for weaknesses in the witness to exploit.
I loved the response of our team: kindness but not
cowardice. Sure, we will leave, but not without praying that God would open
blind eyes, set captives free, and demonstrate His redemptive plan with power
and grace. Yes, we will leave, but not without exposing the village to the
aroma of Christ.
See, we know that whenever you get close to punching the
enemy in the face, he squeaks up! He recoils and then retaliates! It is the
nature of how things work. So, rather than cowering or becoming discouraged, we
should find encouragement and purpose in the resistance by the enemy. After
all, if the devil doesn’t push back against your efforts…you must ask yourself
“why?” Are you simply not a threat, or are you still on his team?
By the way, while one of three sharing teams was being kicked out, the other two were in the village and leading people to profess faith in Christ. Yep! We were on the right track!
When the enemy gets in your face and roars, smile with the
greatest of confidence… “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the
world.” (1 John 4:4).
In recent days I returned from a mission trip in South Asia, working with national partners in one of the least-reach areas of the world with the gospel. You can look at my first article HERE or second HERE. This is the third in the series.
Sunday service prior to preaching to these precious saints
How often do you reflect on and rehearse the Gospel? In the context we served in, there was an effective, simple, and reproducible system for sharing the Gospel. After getting to know the person/family briefly, I received permission to pray for them, and then further permission to share a story of hope from the Word of God. This story would lead to receiving permission to briefly share my personal conversion testimony and a key question (in my case), “Have you ever heard the Gospel?”
This is where it gets interesting to me. No one knew the
gospel. They had not heard. Ever. From anyone. Ever. Did I say ever?
[FULL STOP]
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who
believe (Romans 1:16). Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord shall be
saved. (Romans 10:13). But, how can they call on Him though if they have not
believed, or heard of, or if no one has told them (Romans 10:14-15 paraphrased)?
So this powerful gospel which is able to save and entrusted to us by Him who desires for all men to be saved…has never been heard…but if someone shared it, and it was heard, resulting in belief, it would change all eternity for the hearer! WOW! But that is not all that changes.
One of our team sharing with a group of people gathered to hear the Gospel
As I rehearsed the Gospel over and over again…it brought renewed
joy to my heart. We are not talking about deep theological constructs here.
I was not waxing eloquent on some apologetic approach to the resurrection in
some way that my seminary professors would be captured in awe. I was rehearsing
a short story from pictures imprinted on a sharing bracelet. Creation. Sin.
Consequence. God’s Redemptive Work. The Cross. The Empty Tomb. The invitation
to respond in repentance and belief. Eternal Hope.
As I shared, people were interested…but I was interested in how “interested” they were to hear of God’s creative, redemptive, and restorative work! As I watched God warm hearts and draw people with the gospel, I became more in love with it too!
Here’s what else: I watched all of our national partners
doing the same thing. We all shared the same message in the same basic way. In
fact, one of our sent-out families had a young daughter who rehearsed the gospel
from the bracelet for me many times during the day. This warmed my heart and
caused me to love the gospel more!
I suppose a bottled up, stuck on a shelf, seldom rehearsed story is no less powerful in its nature…but it cannot be appreciated as much until it is shared and shared and shared. [Read that again slowly and process it].
A good day of sharing for our team
Yes, I know we live in America. I know we (most of us who
would be reading this article anyway) have heard the “old, old story” many
times…but I would suggest that we would come to appreciate it more if we would
share it often, everywhere…with everyone who would give a hearing. I might even
go as far as to say—we would learn to love it more through sharing it and
watching what God does with it in the hearts of those who hear.
In my recent trip to South Asia, I was part of a team working in an unentered (by us) village. Like many of the areas where we have worked, poverty was about the only thing the people had plenty of. And hospitality. This village was marginally receptive to a visit from an American. We spent several hours from house to house sitting on the floor and discussing the gospel.
Receiving a gift of honor, hand-crafted by the people of that church as an expression of gratitude.
As I would share the stories of hope from the gospels, I would ask the questions: Have you heard this story before? Have you heard of this Jesus before? Most all stated they had never heard the story of hope, but some had heard of Jesus. At some point in the past, EV teams had entered the village from a different tribe of Christians. They had taught the people that a sign of repentance and trusting Jesus was that the women would be more plainly adorned, forsaking the wearing of jewelry (piercings and bangles). My interpreter spent the majority of the time trying to convince the villagers that we did not believe that to become a believer one would have to stop wearing jewelry. In most cases, the women refused to “believe” because they did not wish to stop wearing bangles (thin, jeweled bracelets usually worn several at a time).
Like you, I might think that is a “silly” obstacle to overcome to find peace and forgiveness. But then again, I am approaching the matter with Western eyes. I later spoke to our area partner (pastor) who explained the problem. The pastor advised that he often ran into this objection in his area and found the same results. He explained that a “widow” in these villages would not wear bangles. She would dress in a plain outfit and refuse the jeweled accessories as a sign of mourning.
A church we were privileged to share testimony with and I had the privilege to preach to on Sunday. Our national part there is doing an amazing work
So, imagine if you would…a woman in America coming to faith and being told to remove her wedding band, earrings, and any other pretty accessories. Besides the cultural stigma from her friends (you’re married but refuse to wear a ring), and the cultural assumptions by her community (she is not wearing a ring so she must be unmarried), the disrespect shown to her husband would become a stumbling block to the gospel in his life and an affront to his honor as a husband. All because of poor cultural exegesis (a study of the cultural norms) and weakly supported theology (jewelry itself is somehow worldly and ungodly).
Our team praying with gathered locals who were hearing the gospel and seeking God’s mercy
The well-intentioned (charitably speaking) efforts of this false gospel propagating group had done incredible harm to the advance of the Kingdom in these villages. They had inadvertently (again charitably speaking) erected a stumbling block to those who would hear the life-changing offer of Christ.
I am reminded of James 3:1 which reminds those who teach the things of God that we will incur a stricter judgment for influencing people to believe false assertions about Christ. I am also reminded of our Western history of the same type of things. (i.e. Skirt lengths, music, dancing, playing cards, make-up, and tattoos, just to name a few).
A goodbye photo with dear friends whose love and leadership inspires me
As I reflect on this, I am convinced that we MUST be more diligent to ensure that if we speak on behalf of our gracious Father and misrepresent the timeless and perfect message He has entrusted to us, we make ourselves accountable for the eternal damnation of untold scores of people. Their blood is, in part, on our hands.
As a messenger entrusted with a message, make sure you get
it right. We will all stand one day before Him to give an account.
I would love to hear your thoughts…particularly if you think I am embellishing or overstating my case. The conversation matters, because the gospel matters.
This is the first of several articles I will publish this week discussing my recent trip to this region. Check back daily for pictures and reflections on lessons from the trip…
Well, this question is a little weird. I know the obvious answer is because Jesus commanded us to make disciples of ALL people groups, and South Asians are part of the “ALL.” I also know that mission trips are fun experiences of fellowship and personal growth. I also know it is exciting to experience different cultures up close. These are all great reasons.
A local leader and his wife
Of course, some would say to me: We go because of the “call
of God” on our lives specifically and uniquely. If He tells you to go, you must
go! This is also a true statement that I would not argue.
However, what if there were three other reasons to go? Would you?
In recent days I had a great privilege to work with dear friends from our church in a ministry area we have been involved in for over a decade. Our church identified a People Group that was Unreached and Unengaged (meaning we had no known believers and no active disciple-making efforts among them (that we were aware of). On my trip, I wanted to see the work up close and minister alongside our network of national leaders/partners who were evangelizing, discipling, and deploying their own people to reach their nation (political entity).
one of several baptisms we celebrated
In the process of four days, our teams saw 75 professions of faith across several villages that were previous unentered. That’s right…no one had been among the villagers to tell them of Jesus. I know…because I asked them. As part of the sharing model we employed, I had the opportunity for significant dialogue (through my interpreter). In every encounter, I asked if the person had heard of Jesus and if he/she had heard the story from the Word of God that had shared with them. Without fail, the stories of hope from Scripture were foreign to the people. While some had heard the name of Jesus, all but a handful of the 150+ people we shared with were certain that this was their FIRST TIME hearing the Name of Jesus. That is really my first reason—because people have never heard of God’s Son.
Sharing with a young congregation on the significance of baptism
Second, I think someone should go because people are receptive to the Gospel. Receptivity to the gospel is not a constant everywhere. It ebbs and flows. With only a few exceptions, every person I spoke with invited us to sit for a moment and share about Jesus.
Walking to an area that is inaccessible otherwise following the monsoon season this year. Six believed in this area.
Finally, I think someone should go because it will change your love life. (Yes, I used that word to catch your attention). I mean to say, I love the South Asian people. I love the culture. I love the food. I love the strong spirit of the people and their humble presence. I love the children’s smiles and I love it when women hear the stories of God’s grace and feel valued by God…a first for many of them. I love it when men hear of the Prodigal Son and find hope for themselves. I love when families hear of my personal faith journey and realize that God is gracious. I love the hospitality of the people. I love them. Going to South Asia will change your love life!
If you’ve never been…let me encourage you to go. Take next year’s vacation and spend it in South Asia. Sit down in a front-row seat watching God do His redemptive work. Watch defeated eyes brighten with the hope of Christ. You’ll never do anything MORE significant than partnering with God in an amazing work like that.
If I can help you or resource you…or just sit and answer
questions and concerns over coffee (or Skype), you only need to ask. Shoot me a
note from my contact page or through the church where I am privileged to serve.
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