We have all been part of the world’s people at some point. Our race, community, even family have defined us, but nobody is born a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Paul talks in Acts 26:18-18 about his encounter with Jesus:
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Jesus told Paul he will rescue him from his own people and Gentiles, and then send him right back to them. What? He is sending Paul right back to where he was rescued from.
I believe Jesus has done this for all of us who believe in him. He has taken us out of our culture, and then placed us back in with changed hearts to be witnesses and ambassadors for his kingdom. How insane is that!? He is ready to do that in Cambodia.
Cambodia is a beautiful country. But it is also a very dark country. As my team drove from the border of Thailand to Siem Reap, I immediately felt the heaviness here. God told me it was the cries of the blood of all of those killed in the Genocide of the 70’s and of those still being killed. Many babies get aborted if the mother isn’t wed. I started praying for everything and let some stuff fall away from me. Right after, God gave me a huge rainbow. Rainbows are God’s way of commuicating to me that He is there, listening, protecting. God is here Cambodia. He is listening to your cries and He is ready for you.
As I visited Angkor Wat, I just saw this amazing picture of God’s voice. I snapped a photo of this Light vs. Dark scene that was perfectly split on Angkor Wat’s highest point. Angkor Wat is a temple, first a Hindu temple, then a Buddhist temple. There were many hundreds of years worth of darkness here.
As dawn arrived, there was a clear distinction between darkness and light. But as the day continued on, that clear line faded. I see it as the light overcoming the dark. There isn’t a line anymore because the darkness doesn’t exist. This is such a great picture of the kingdom of heaven. And, brothers and sisters, we are already part of God’s kingdom. We are the ambassadors, bringing the kingdom. The light is overcoming the darkness in Cambodia. It is overcoming the darkness in Thailand. India. Nepal. America. Your workplace. Your neighborhood. We may not always see it, but when we love out of God’s love, the light pushes back the darkness.
How are you bringing the kingdom?
Much love,
Saraya
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
