Looking back on this year I can’t help but notice a consistent focus on scripture. Not surprising perhaps in the setting of a missions trip but extremely prevalent none the less. From even before I left starting to faithfully be in the word daily so it would become a habit I could continue each day this year. I knew it would be a tool I would need more than ever. As a young AWANA kid I can remember memorizing Ephesians 6 the armor of God. And always having the teaching include that the only weapon to fight with is the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Knowing it’s power, knowing the importance of being able to use it when needed in battle. And knowing that walking into missions places you in the front lines of spiritual warfare.
Month one in Australia I had multiple conversations with a teammate about the importance of the Bible and why we should read it and know what it says. Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Knowing the Bible literally combats sin! Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The Bible gives us direction! 2Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. It is how we share the Gospel with others and teach them the way they should go. Even the fact that I was able to provide her with all these verse because I had memorized them years before showed 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (I know it’s a lot of scripture but what do you expect in a blog about the Bible!?!?!)
I have mentioned that I have been following a bible reading plan for this year. It has me reading chronologically through the Bible in a year. I started January 1st before I left and will finish December 31st after I get home. This is the first time reading it chronologically and I have loved it!! Reading passages relaying the same things by different writers such as Chronicles and Samuel and the 4 Gospels. Noting the similarities and the differences. Having God give you knew insights or just seeing things in a different light this time around has been amazing. And it’s great being surrounded by other believers and being able to have real and deep and even sometimes hard conversations about it has been great. We also frequently speak scripture over each other combating lies of the devil and calling each other higher.
All this to say I fully believe in the power of the word and the need for it to spread through the ends of the earth!!! The sad reality however is that there are millions of people that do not have Bibles or have access to Bibles in their native tongue. Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. During our time in Tangier, Morocco we got connected to a Christian organization here whose focus is church planting as a team in unreached people groups. We asked how we could come alongside them and support them during our time here. They shared that their biggest need was Bibles. While there are Bibles in Arabic available, the issue was getting them to Tangier. It is currently illegal to bring in Bibles as it is illegal to prosthelytize to Moroccans in Morocco. (They don’t however mind at all it you do so to non Moroccans living in Morocco). Obviously if long term missionaries get caught doing this it can be detrimental to their ministry. For short term teams however the risk is far less. While there was a possibility of having the Bible’s confiscated, being held in a Moroccan jail for 5hrs, and being monitored for the remainder of our time here, that paled in comparison to the impact of placing Bibles in homes here! We were all in agreement pretty quickly… it also didn’t hurt that after we could say we smuggled Bibles into Africa!!! So we crossed into Spanish territory, obtained the Bible’s, hid them in our packs, and crossed back into Tangier. We came back with 125Bibles for the team to disperse here!!! We covered the day in prayer every step of the way. There were schemes of the devil present in the constant rain when we had to do quite a bit of walking. Ourselves and our bags were soaked but everyone pushed on. As we crossed the boarder successfully without detection we looked up and saw a rainbow… how awesome is our God?!?!?!? Genesis 9:13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and he earth. While it wasn’t raining hard enough to be concerned about flooding it served as a sign to us that He was with us watching over us. We also spent time praying over those who would receive these Bibles. That the word would come alive to them. That God would grant them wisdom and understanding. That they would in turn share it with someone else. While we may never know the impact this will have on the kingdom of God we can know we were faithful in doing our part. Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
