Melting Heart

One afternoon Kayla and I were prayer walking with one of the ministry contacts from this month. There were women covered from head to toe as to make sure none of their flesh was showing. Men with red painted foreheads that could be seen from a block away. Then there were the “average Joe’s” that made you wonder how they fit in here. Black, white, tan, yellow, brown, all shades of skin, all adorned in their particular religious attire, lined the streets. There is no mystery as to why Malaysia is called the melting pot. It’s as if the world has collided here in KL, Malaysia. To our left was a three hundred year old Mosque, conveniently located in the center most part of the city and to our right a Burger King with a 7/11 just down the block. The sight just makes you tilt your head at the amusement of it all. 

As we continued to walk toward the market I prayed that the Lord would give me His heart for the people and for the city. Thus far it had been a very busy day of ministry and I was struggling to walk, let alone care to minister to the people we would come in contact with. 

 We passed by stands selling clothing, flip-flops, various knickknacks, and religious propaganda. Our contact stopped at a Muslim shop were we started talking about the beads that are worn around their necks for prayer. The owner quickly jumped up to aid us with the merchandise. Along with the beads there were bottles of oil and perfume. 

 We asked the young Muslim man what the purpose was for the oil. He first explained that it was cleansing for the outside of the body and for the soul. Just like humans, Angels also like the smell of the perfume and using the oil attacks their presence. From there we talked more in depth about the various purposes of the oil eventually leading to the purpose of Muslim lifestyle. 

The young man described the discipline of prayer, the best times to pray, and how one should act after prayer as to not erase all the effort with a sin. He explained the requirements of prayer and as he continued talking, listing qualification after qualification I started tearing up. All the prayer time, rituals, observances, and effort for something that may or may not happen. Observing all of these things doesn’t guarantee any sort of salvation or afterlife. 

Looking at it from his perspective I realized that there is no way that I would make it. I instantly felt defeated and hopeless when looking at all that would have to be done to maybe or maybe not receive salvation. All the effort, all the doing, all the striving.
Praise Jesus Christ that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! He’s taken away our sin (Luke 1:29), we are guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16), we are given this gift if only we are willing to come to Him to have life (John 5:40). With Christ we do not have to “fix ourselves”, earn our salvation, strive for acceptance. We are given the gift of salvation, not because of our right doing but because of the Father’s love for us.
How many times are we like the young man that I met? Performing rituals and observances like going to church, attending extra bible studies, and over exerting ourselves in the name of Jesus because “it’s what we should do.” True Christianity isn’t about fulfilling a qualification but serving out of heart for our Christ.
We serve a Great, True and Living God! If only we are willing to come to Him to have life!