This is day 2 of 32. Throughout April, we will be posting daily. We invite you to learn about Chinese Muslims and pray with us for God’s glory to be made known among them. If you would like to read other posts in this series, you can find them here.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV)
“Jesus did not die on the cross! Judas did!” Such was the emphatic statement of the father of new believer Abraham* as he rejected the notion that the great prophet Jesus could die such a gruesome death. Abraham’s parents have witnessed a distinct change in their son since he began following Jesus. The change appears to be good, but as they hear their son’s beliefs they cannot reconcile the incarnation and death of Jesus with their religious heritage, so they continue to reject the truth.
The idea that the prophet Jesus died on the cross is folly for Muslims. The incarnation is also folly because God coming to earth as a man and then dying on the cross is incomprehensible in their minds. It is foolishness.
Today, we celebrate that not only did Jesus die on the cross, but also He rose from the dead! We worship and proclaim, He is risen! He is risen! He is risen indeed!
As you praise God today, pray that the word of the cross and the resurrection will not be heard as folly by Chinese Muslims. May they hear the Gospel and be saved! May it be the power of God in their lives bringing them to the truth. Pray specifically for Abraham’s family. May they hear the truth clearly this year and turn to follow Jesus.
Pray today for followers of Jesus who are proclaiming the Gospel to Chinese Muslims. For those of us who have grown up in a Christian environment, the death and resurrection of Jesus does not sound ridiculous or foolish. We have heard it all our lives. However for others, especially Muslims, it is absurd. For Muslims to even be willing to listen to the Gospel, often it is necessary to walk them through the story of the Bible explaining God’s story and how it all leads to Jesus. Only then are they willing to listen to Jesus’ message. Pray that followers of Jesus will be patient and intentional about clearly presenting the Gospel through stories to Chinese Muslims. May they not be discouraged by rejection, but daily press forward proclaiming the Gospel, knowing that it is the power of God for those Chinese Muslims who are being saved!
Pray with us that next Easter there will be many new Chinese Muslim-background believer (MBB) churches that have formed! Lord willing, many new Hui, Salar and Dongxiang believers will join us next year proclaiming, He is risen, He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Heavenly Father, today we praise You for Jesus is risen! He has conquered death and released us from the power of sin! We know that the Gospel is folly to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. We ask today that many Chinese Muslims will hear the Gospel this year and receive it as the truth. May many say, This message is not foolishness. It is the truth! We also pray that you will give wisdom to all of your servants as they faithfully proclaim the Gospel to Chinese Muslims. Help them to clearly proclaim the truth. Next Easter may there be new churches among the Hui, Salar and Dongxiang proclaiming, Jesus is risen! We pray in Jesus name, Amen.
*name changed