Lost and Found

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7, NASB.

I was driving around an area of town with which I wasn’t very familiar, looking for a welding shop. This was an area that I had been surveying for a possible preaching point. When I found a welding shop, it was operated by a 40 year old Melayu Riau man. He had a goatee and wore conservative Muslim clothing. His wife was Minang and wore the traditional head covering. They looked as if they could be fanatical about their religion, so I was a little intimidated about sharing the Gospel with them.

As I asked them about the work I wanted done, we also talked about family. I discovered that they had been married for 7 years and still had no children. In our culture being childless is a real burden. I offered to pray for them. The man eagerly agreed.

After I prayed for this couple in the name of Jesus, the man said, “I would like to learn more about the God you worship. Do you have anything I could read?” I was shocked at his openness, and I was also caught unprepared. All my tracts and reading materials were back at the office. I promised the man I would bring him materials to read.

I drove back to the office and got a few Gospel tracts for him to read. I delivered them to him on the same day. When I came back a week later he had read all the tracts I had left with him. He said, “I don’t have anything against Christianity, but I would be kicked out of my family if I decided to follow your religion.”

I discovered that this man had been getting up early every morning for a long time to listen to a Christian radio broadcast. I gave him a Gospel of Matthew. I said, “The longer you wait to make a decision, the harder it will become.”

At my words the man nodded his head gravely, and agreed to reread all the materials I had given him. His wife won’t talk to me. She glares at me whenever I visit. But the man always greets me warmly. I can see how God is drawing this man to Himself, but it will not be easy for him to make a decision. It is so hard to make a decision that you know will result in being rejected by the people you love.

Pray that:

God will grant this couple a child and that they would know the child came in response to prayers made in the name of Jesus.

God will change the heart of this man’s wife and draw her to faith in Jesus.

God will give this man courage to choose God soon.

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