On this Good Friday, we feel tension in wanting to stop life to focus fully on the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Savior; yet, life in our part of Chad doesn’t yet stop for the message of Jesus. Instead of a Good Friday service and time off from “work” this weekend, we find ourselves very blessed to be in the “thick” of ministry and life.
We have the opportunity to see in reality the blessings of Jesus’ work on the cross by…
… helping a malnourished baby and saying, “Thank you, Jesus that your body was broken for us and that if we “feed” of you we will never be spiritually hungry. You are the bread of life and you sustain us with joy and hope and peace and salvation.” (Luke 22:19; John 6:50-58)
…filling clay jars of water for our neighbors who have been days without water, and we say, “Thank you, Jesus for being the living water. We remember your death now, and we rejoice that your suffering and shame have given us life everlasting. In you, we will never thirst.” (John chapter 4)
…providing soap and water for little girls who visited us with filthy clothes and filthy bodies, and we look to Jesus and say, “Jesus, our works for you are as filthy rags, just like what these girls are wearing. Your death and resurrection have the power to wash our filthy hearts clean and make us new creatures.” (Hebrews 9:14; Isaiah 64:6)
…attending a full-day circumcision celebration for several young boys, and we can say, “Lord, we praise you that by believing in your death and resurrection, you circumcise our hearts; you set us apart to love You fully, inside and out.” (Romans 2:29)
In these very daily, sometimes monotonous matters of life and ministry in Chad, we are still able to worship at the foot of the cross and rejoice in His resurrection. Celebrating with you, brothers and sisters! Happy Easter!