Yesterday I toured the Grand Mosque here in the city. I learned a lot about our cousins. My heart was grieved as I listened to the devout guide explain his faith to me. This stood out to me the most: Every day cousins are on their faces praying for light. Can you believe that? They are praying for light. When that precious man told me that I immediately began asking that very thing. Father, Give them light.
As I was alone that night in my room with the Word, I asked myself, “What is the purpose of light?” My thoughts settled here:
- Light takes away darkness
- Light guides our way through darkness
- Light enables us to see
- Light provides warmth
- Light enables growth
My next question was, “What does the Word say about light?”
Gen 1:3 – God spoke light into existence. He is the source of light.
Ex 10:23 – Plague of Darkeness. God provided light for His children. Light was their comfort.
Ps 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation
Ps 119:105 – The Word is a light unto my path. It is our guidance.
Matt 5:14 – We are the light of the World.
Luke 2:32 and John 8:12 – Jesus is the light.
John 12:35 – We are commanded to walk in the light.
As I pondered and prayed through this scripture, I became so excited. And I began to think of a SS lesson I had just listened to the day before by Dr. Russ Moore teaching through the account of Moses living in the house of Pharoah. He pointed out that Pharoah was allowing the very man that would destroy his kingdom to live in his house and enjoy the ‘perks’ of growing up royal.
You see why my thoughts wandered there?
Just as Pharoah did not know what he was allowing, the cousins do not know what they are praying for!
Everyday cousins pray for light. The Word says that the Father is the light. We are the avenue in which the world sees the light. The Father has placed light all around the cousins in the PacRim! Everyday they are seeing that light as followers meet their needs. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about that! I love how the Father works!
Join me as I thank the Father for putting His light here. Ask Him if would soften hearts and allow the cousins to see His light. Ask that He continue to go before us and prepare the way. Ask the Father if He would allow cousins to see that they live in darkness. Ask that the Father would allow Katie and me to be light in this dark place. Ask that Matthew 5:14 be the cry of our hearts.
Thank you, Theresa, for sharing your thoughts and your heart for our cousins. It reminds me of the Allegory of the Cave–they are satisfied to live in the shadows because that is all they know. May the light of the gospel shine so gloriously that they cannot help but be drawn to Him!