Paid Prayers

“And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34, NAS.

Japanese people are very gracious and generous people, but they do not invite people into their homes very often. So when Mrs. Mori* invited us to her home we knew it was an important milestone in our relationship with her. One of the items that she wanted us to see was the family altar. It was ornate and very expensive. Her other friends marveled at the book of prayers that the priest uses because it was ancient and rare.

Mrs. Mori explained that her family altar was to Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Light. She told us about the offerings she places on the altar. We asked her questions about the shrine, but she often responded, “I don’t know much about this, I only open it once a month when the priest comes to pray.”

Another friend asked her, “What do the prayers mean?” She said, “I don’t know. My husband and I just kneel and listen to the priest, but we don’t know what he’s praying.”

The evening was bitter-sweet for us. We have grown to love these ladies and are so pleased that they are letting us into their lives. It saddens us that they offer sacrifices to false gods that they don’t even know. They bring in a specialist to pray words they don’t understand. If only they understood that God isn’t distant or unknowable, but He very much wants a relationship with them. If only they realized that they no longer need to pay for prayers because Jesus has paid the price for them. He has removed the cause of separation between God and man.

We have a lot of work to do. Thankfully we are not alone. The God who deeply loves us is the same God who is drawing Mrs. Mori and her friends and family to Himself.

*Names changed for privacy reasons.

Pray that:

The Holy Spirit will convict Mrs. Mori and her friends and family that the gospel we are sharing is the truth.

Conviction will lead to repentance and salvation.

Salvation will lead to life transformation, witness, and multiplication so that the people of Japan will know the One who paid the price for them.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.