As the months pass us by and the race continues to progress, Christianity seems to fade more and more away into the distance. Central America people knew of Jesus whereas in Asia, this is very uncommon.
As a believer from the Bible belt, it’s total culture shock to me that people in the world genuinely don’t know the name of Jesus. You have always heard that, but it’s something totally different to walk into a place, covered in idols, temples, and the name of Jesus not meaning a thing to anyone.
It’s easy to walk into this reality being discouraged by the empty souls that lack belief in the only God you’ve ever served some due to a choice; some due to never even heard the good news of the Gospel. It’s easy to look out and see no hope, a problem bigger than what you can offer a solution for, and a people who are so lost.
Surrounded by unbelief one may start to question their ability to make a difference. Is my life bearing fruit for the Kingdom? How can I, one person, make a difference in a land full of those that don’t believe or have never heard?
As I was reading Matthew in the Philippines, I couldn’t help but to notice the role I am called to fill when put in these circumstances.
In Matthew 8:5-13, we hear about the great faith of the Centurion officer.
In this story, the officer comes to Jesus pleading on behalf of his servant who is paralyzed and is in great suffering. Jesus then offers to come to his house to heal the servant. The officer then replies that if Jesus would just say the word, than the servant would be healed. Jesus was then astonished by the officer’s faith and assured him to, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed that very hour.
The paralyzed servant was so consumed by his condition; he personally couldn’t do anything about it. However, it was because of the officer’s faith that he was healed.
How many times are we surrounded by those who are blinded by the miracle that could happen?
We as believers are called to not lose hope for those who are paralyzed in their faith, yet we are called to believe for those who can’t or chose not to. Our faith, our petitions have the ability to set those free.
God moved on behalf of someone’s else faith for this paralyzed man – what makes us doubt the fact that our faith can produce miracles for others in our own lives, whether this be family members that are lost in the ways of this world, or those in other countries that are blinded from the truth?
I am called to believe.
I am called to have faith.
And in that faith, may the Lord move in the lives of others, just by the Lord saying the word. My prayer is that when I enter these countries and encounter these people that the Lord would use my faith to move on behalf of others in greater freedom, healing, salvation, love, and hope.
