We just sent out an update asking people to pray for us for wisdom and perseverance..... How do we continue in relationship with our friends here that have so far rejected Christ? How do we continue to love them, serve them, keep our conversation salty with the Gospel?
I was thinking over all this at the sink and realized that this might all sound so very dumb! After all, we all have friends that do not love Christ. We just continue to love them, right?
Yes. And at the same time there is something about shaking the dust from your feet when friends won’t listen to the message of Christ. http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-14.htm.
Sometimes, in this line of work, we have to correct our prone-to-wander minds to remember that this is not just our “job.” This is our life. We are Christians and we want to, we long to boast in Christ and to proclaim the Good News of His savlation. This is not just what we do because we’re supported to do it financially. This is our heart’s desire....
We’re not sharing about Christ because we have to.... but because we are limited people, we do have to make some hard calls so that we are best able to share about Him with the ones most ready to hear. We still do have to be intentional....
I told my husband after a hard (very hard) conversation with a Uyghur girlfriend last week.... “I’ve always wanted to imagine that I could simply bake cookies and invite friends over to hear about Jesus.... they would say “yum”, and ask for more, and I could tell them more too and they’d trust in Him and be changed and forever glad.”
Ministry lately has felt like much more of a battle-field than a bake-off. And you’d think Scripture would be clear enough for me to not feel so surprised or unready for this but.... I do feel weak. Unequipped. Even scared. There... I said it.
For probably almost every day that I’ve ever dreamed of or lived out any “m i ssionary” zeal, I’ve imagined that surely, since God wants all this, that He would bless our efforts and make it all fruitful and sweet and... well... hopefully, easy. At least easy enough that I could do it just a little bit. I thought we could really make it work to be business people here who are Christians and who are very vocal about Christ.
But it’s just not looking so. Last week I found myself boldly, fire-fully exhorting a dear friend. Whenever she’s questioned (at some point she’ll be questioned about her foreign friends), there’s no guessing what she'll say as to what's our real purpose here. No doubts about “maybe they’re just doing business and they’re also Christian.” No... we are here to proclaim salvation in Christ, to urge them with love and tears to believe, and maybe even to make the hard calls of wiping dust from our feet and moving on to pursue other relationships for the sake of seeing this Good News of Christ spread among this people. It’s plain as day to this friend and anyone she talks to....
God give me courage for this! And wisdom!!! When should we... oh what exactly do you mean in Matthew 10:14 by “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” ??? “Be bold and courageous,” Lord thank you for your Word..... thank you that you will fight for us. Fight for the Uyghur people, Lord! Even as you have already given your Son for them, to make the way to your throne, now show them your Son, that they might come!
God give us your protection! That we could faithfully, fruitfully proclaim your Gospel here so that many might see and hear the wonders of your love for us in Christ and so that many might come to you and trust in you. So that this people might be beautified by your salvation!
God soften these hard hearts! That they might feel pierced by Your Word, by their need for a Savior, by the Truth of who you are and how you have shown us your love in the cross.
God be praised among the Uyghur people.... and do with us whatever you please, for your glory!
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