Flower Power

“What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:19-20, NAS.

Whenever Bunga goes home to visit her parents in Surin, Thailand, she knows she will be greeted with a flower offering. Her mom prepares the flowers so the spirit of the house will allow Bunga to enter without harming her or anyone else in the family. Her parents know that she is a follower of Jesus, but they make the offering anyway.

Every day Bunga’s mother offers flowers to the spirits in the morning. The spirit often enters her mom and causes her to shake and say something unintelligibly. As a child, Bunga remembers that if they failed to make the offering, then someone always got sick until the offering was restored.

Bunga also remembers being afraid of the spirits and witchdoctors because of an experience she had as a young girl. It was late one night, and she felt like someone was taking their hands and wrapping them around her neck. The invisible hands squeezed her until blood came out her nose. Then it released her.

After coming to Christ, Bunga is no longer afraid of the spirits. “I don’t have to be afraid,” said Bunga, “Because God is great.”

Pray that:

God will demonstrate His power over spirits so that Bunga’s entire family will be freed from their fear and find His great salvation.

Thais will put their trust in Christ instead of fetishes or flower offerings.

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