Face Like Flint

“For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:7, NKJV.

A Lua man named Tuan sat cross legged on the floor of his simple wood slat house with a look of chiseled determination etched on his face. He shared why he decided to follow Jesus instead of the bad spirit.

Two times Tuan’s family had serious illness. Both times Tuan prayed to God in the Name of Jesus, and God answered his prayers with healing. He said, “Many of my neighbors have pleaded with me to come back to the old ways of worshiping the bad spirit. I tell them that I cannot. Jesus is my life.”

The villagers fear that Tuan’s decision to follow Jesus will bring problems to his family, and to the village. It is not uncommon for villagers to blame bad things that happen to them on people like Tuan because he isn’t conforming to the old traditions.

When asked about paying such a high social cost for following Jesus, Tuan said, “I know Satan is real and is more powerful than man, but he is NOT more powerful than God. There is only ONE true God, and I am determined to follow Him.”

Pray that:

God will encourage and strengthen Tuan and his family as they seek to follow Him even though it has resulted in ostracism in their village.

Other families in Tuan’s village will be convicted of the truth and will join Tuan in standing for Christ.

A church will be established in Tuan’s village, Nong Plaa, before the end of 2008.

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