The Great Treasure

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Will they see Jesus?

The longer we are here, the more I ask myself this question. We’re learning more and more about the people here and some of the stuff is pretty discouraging. There are many stories about theft, abandoned children, drug and alcohol use and other things. Then I meet some of the people that are just good, hard working people trying to make it in life. They’re not much different from any American I know, they have just adapted to the world they grew up in and may deal with a few generational things that become a way of life. We use that phrase a lot lately as we sympathize with certain situations. Although things may look very strange or sometime flat out wrong to us on the surface, we realize that it is in fact a way of life here.

So what do we do? What do we say? How do we shine for Jesus? It’s not like we can offer them much in the way of material things that could change their lives. We can offer them jobs, or feed their entire family on a regular basis. We can’t really change their present situation in the physical realm much at all… and frankly, why do we need to? Have we reduced the good news of the gospel to financial gain or material possessions?  Do we judge spirituality by worldly success? Sadly, yes we do.

If I look around, realizing the hard truth of these peoples lives and that I can do little to impact their daily living, it’s easy to fall into a trap of thinking our ministry may fail. But if I realize that the gospel of Jesus is such good news that is far surpasses physical needs, that is sheer truth and hope far outweighs that of even daily meals, I am able to see the how wonderful our God really is. Jesus even told us that man can not live by bread alone. Paul refers to the gospel as glorious treasure that we carry as fragile jars of clay. God chose our frail being to deliver the good news in such a way that regardless of circumstances, we have hope and a future in His plan. If I believed that worldly treasure could change the lives of these people and point them toward God, how much more does heavenly treasure impact and change lives?

God is doing a work in our lives as we live among the people here and try to serve them in the smallest ways. He is preparing our hearts. He is revealing His good news in a deeper and more meaningful way. He is preparing us to share His truth!

Join us in praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit among the people here. As the early church spread across the region ministering, the Spirit fell in such a way that it was noticeable. Peter went to Cornelius and “saw that they received the spirit”. We are praying that the power of the Holy Spirit be evident here. We are praying for transformed lives more than anything as well as miracles that may accompany. The Spirit represents our “Guarantee of Christ’s return” according to 2 Corinthians, and we want to see the Miskito people overflowing with the Joy of this good news!