What an awesome privilege we have as missionaries to physically
stand in the place of Jesus, many of us in lands who for the most part have
never heard of Him. I get asked often by the Thai people, "Why?"
"Why do you live here?"
"Why do you teach children for free?"
“Why are you willing to pick up my child when I am not available
to bring them?”
“Why don’t you charge for the meal you provide after your church
service?”
“Why do you want to learn
our language?”
“Why do you come visit in my neighborhood every week?”
“Why do you open your home to everyone?”
On a weekly basis I get asked one of these questions or something
similar. And just today, after a lady found out that I had helped to purchase new school uniforms for a couple girls, took them on a small sight-seeing trip yesterday to visit the summer palace and the sea, and let them spend the night at my house last night, I was asked, “Why do you help those two orphan girls?”
For the most part, those that come to live in Thailand often fall
within one of these categories: people looking for pleasure that is readily
available, people looking to escape their past or start over, or people looking
to build a business and make a profit
I don’t fit into their concept of a “farong” (foreigner), and so
they are skeptical of my motives. To
answer these questions, I most often say something about wanting to be a help
to anyone I can. After a bit of thought
and looking at me somewhat sideways they usually say the words, “Jai dee” which
means “good heart.” It is then that I have the opportunity to tell them that, no,
it is not that I have a good heart, but that God does. He is not the aloof being that they pray to
in fear and think doesn’t hear them or understand their life or situation. He loves them and wants to have a close
relationship with them, and He sent me here to Thailand to tell them about Him
and to show them His love. What a joy it is to see them mull that over in their
minds and then readily open their hearts to hear what else I might have to tell
them about God and His love for them.
I’m thankful for each of you who stand in Christ’s place all over
the world, and how grateful I am that He allows me to stand in His place here in
Thailand.
Matthew 25:34-40
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat:
I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me:
I was sick, and ye visited me:
I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
2 comments:
Love it! When they see Him working through us, we get such a great opportunity to show them who He is.
It is scary at times to be in this position and a great reminder to mind our P's & Q's
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