Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SELF-CONTROL (12/09/21)
-
TITLE: Misconceptions Unveiled | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Lawrence
12/15/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Seeing the nativity scene on the sofa table, she asked, “Jesus? Is Isa, yes? Maryam, yes?”
Ohh! God was saying yes to my plea that He control the visit with my Saudi conversation partner! I had prepared a place, hoping the Lord’s Spirit would facilitate the conversation.
The Lord told me once I have an untamed tongue. That’s not something one forgets. He left no doubt about what I heard when He then told me to “write.” My tongue often takes off on its own, racing down multiple paths all at once, losing the listener. Since I love Advent—remembering the many people and events that pointed to Jesus’ coming—and to His greatly anticipated coming again, it’s easy for my tongue to get carried away if anyone shows the slightest interest in the topic of Advent.
“I don’t know that word Advent,” Areej said, pulling out her phone to use her Arabic/English dictionary. “Coming. What is coming? The Koran say Isa will come from heaven.”
“It does? I didn’t know that was in the Koran? Where does it say Jesus will go?”
“To Mecca.”
“Really! That’s interesting. My Book says He will return to Jerusalem—in Israel. I’d like to know what your Book says about Jesus.”
“Where is Israel?” Areej asked. I was puzzled that she was puzzled as to Israel’s whereabouts. I thought all Muslims hated Israel. Seems I have a lot to learn.
For the next half hour she scrolled through her phone showing me English translation of Koran passages with stories of Isa coming again, Isa’s virgin birth, Maryam eating dates under palm trees, old Zechariah being given a son to name John, and Zechariah adopting Maryam.
“My Book has different details for these stories. Would you like to read them?” I asked.
I handed her a Living Bible opened to Luke. I asked her to read to me so she could go at her own pace and stop to ask questions. I knew comprehension was important to Areej and I breathed a silent prayer for the Word to do what only He can do.
The next hour was the Lord’s Christmas gift to me. He controlled my tongue. Areej had umpteen questions and I had succinct answers.
“What is Luke?” Wow! There’s so much about reading the Bible I take for granted.
“What is disciple?”
“I am a disciple!” I said. “A disciple is a follower. I am a disciple of Jesus. A disciple wants to be like the person they are following. They listen carefully to everything his words—study them. They spend time with him, because they want to be like him.”
“I am your disciple!” Areej said, warming my heart—but also scaring me.
“And I will point you to Jesus! He is the One to follow.”
I know I’m using lots of exclamation marks, but it was an afternoon of exclamations: sudden cries of dismay or surprise.
“What is eyewitness?”
“An eyewitness is someone who can tell what they saw and heard, but they aren’t followers. Luke gathered information from both because he wanted to know the truth about Jesus and to pass the truth onto us.”
“What is Jew?” That question surprised me as much as the one about Israel. I have assumed an animosity between Muslim and Jew and Christian, but that is foreign to this particular Muslim woman God has put in my life. Perhaps she would recognize these places and names in Arabic, rather than English. I might not recognize them in Arabic.
“What is Holy Spirit?” She had just read that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit. My heart pounded, knowing the Holy Spirit was at work, but how to explain? This was not the time to introduce the triune God concept. I’m not responsible for opening her eyes to the truth about Jesus being God. That is the Holy Spirit’s work. I am a witness, like John, preparing the way.
“The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit that He puts in us so we can recognize Jesus,” I said.
Just then her husband arrived with her young sons to take her home.
I’ve no control of conception, of new birth. However, I can plant seeds. And the Holy Spirit hovers, overshadowing our misconceptions.
The reading of Luke will continue next week—I hope.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
