The personal stories recorded here tell of a God who is moved to compassion for every soul, using miraculous means to draw the lost to Himself. While many of us from the Western Christian world resort to fear, anger or rejection when it comes to those of extreme, radical faith, the testimonies in this book challenge us to demonstrate God's compassion and truth in order to see barriers broken, lives transformed and fear dispelled.
It is this belief that is giving many Christians the courage to live among the people who would deem them their enemy. Yet, as they seek to serve them, love them, pray for them and answer their questions, they see people who are desperately seeking the truth that no one has been willing to share with them. The word of God comes to have meaning, through those who do not judge them, but simply share the scriptures and live them. The amazing thing is to read stories of how, in the meantime, God has prepared many to recognize the truth when they hear it because they have been prepared through dreams and visions that come to make sense at the right time.
In many cases, what is happening is not unlike what happened to the apostle Paul in the Bible whom Jesus met on the road to Damascus. His plan to kill those who believed in Jesus changed course as he met Jesus himself. It's about discovery and changed lives, not teaching and knowledge. This is what is changing extreme radicals who persecuted Christians and bombed churches to active believers involved in helping their friends study the Bible.
In other cases, issues that are bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ include an unsatisfied void, no answers for the violence inside their world, feeling like one can't make personal choices or get answers to spiritual questions such as assurance of salvation. As these stories come to life, one moves beyond our small world, dominated by our paper headlines to that of a story God is writing, one that includes people of every race and nation.
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could
count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language,
standing before the throne
and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm
branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on
the throne, and to the Lamb."
Revelation 7:9, 10
5 comments:
I think I need to add this book to a "must read" list. Thanks for this report.
I'm with Rosella. I'm going to try and read this book some time this winter.
Sounds like a powerful book. Sometimes we forget that, as a friend of mine likes to say,..."God is doing a million things all at the same time!" We get so caught up in our own little world, we lose sight of the ways He is working all around the world. Stories like these help us to take Him out of the box we put Him in, too...thinking He only works in a certain way. He is sovereign and can do whatever He pleases!!! :-)
I was thinking about you this weekend at church as we heard a similar message of sharing. Such a great inspiration. Why wouldn't we want to share? Their courage in the midst of fear is inspiring.
What an amazing, sovereign God we serve! I would like to read this book. You shared some powerful insights from it. I do think we cannot begin to comprehend all that He is doing in our world, during every moment of time. The verse you shared inspired my heart this morning. Thanks for sharing the book with us.
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