The last time Easter coincided with Ramadan was 31 years ago. It happens this year, 2022, and we’ve been given a rare vantage point to look at the two holidays side by side and observe that in key points, they couldn’t be more opposite. Ramadan emphasizes good works, self-purification, and religious practices in order to achieve closeness to Allah. Easter emphasizes what Christ did by his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, two facts denied by Muslims. In Ramadan, hope is often undefined. In Easter, hope is eternal life in Christ, because of His victory over death. This week, we pray that Hui would accept the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and put their hope in Him alone. May Hui exchange the goal of earning God’s favor with the goal of knowing Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. We invite you to follow with us over the next eight days praying through Philippians Chapter 3.
Day 16: Confidence
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh Phil 3:3 CSB
Lord, help Hui Christians to not rely on their own strength to serve You, but to boast in Christ Jesus. Lord, let the Hui know that it is by the cross of Christ, and not by their own works, that they can have relationship with You.
Day 17: Loss
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. Phil 3:7 CSB
Lord, give Chinese Christians a heart willing to lose everything they have in this world, for the joy of knowing and proclaiming Christ. Lord, let Hui Muslims who have heard the gospel be willing to give up everything, including family tradition and social status, for the sake of Christ.
Day 18: Righteousness
…so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ Phil. 3:8b-9a CSB
God, please lead Hui Christians to make it their goal to gain Christ and be found in Him rather than seeking approval from others. Father, please lead Hui to receive the righteousness of Christ, and not depend on their own righteousness from good works.
Day 19: Resurrection
My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death Phil. 3:10 CSB
Lord, give Christians a desire to share the gospel with Hui friends and neighbors, trusting in the power of Your resurrection. Lord, open the eyes of Hui to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and to receive eternal life in Christ.
Day 20: Prize
I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:14 CSB
Lord, help Hui believers to pursue the prize of fellowship with Christ and live worthy of Your heavenly call. Lord Jesus, the Hui don’t have a personal relationship with Allah, but rather see him as a distant judge to fear. Please show them that You love them and that You promise eternal life in union with Christ.
Day 21: Example
Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. Phil. 3:17 CSB
Lord, help local believers and church leaders to live like Christ so they are worthy to be imitated. Give them a desire to cross cultural barriers to befriend Hui people. Lord, give Hui people the opportunity to make friends with Christians and to observe the influence of the gospel on their lives.
Day 22: Cross
For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Phil. 3:18 CSB
Lord, lead Chinese Christians to share the gospel clearly with Hui friends, not being ashamed of the cross. Lord, most Hui people unknowingly live as enemies of the cross. Please give them knowledge of their sin, and of salvation by the cross of Christ.
Day 23: Heaven
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:20 CSB
Christ our Savior, please give Hui believers confidence of their citizenship in heaven and in Your return, so that they will share the gospel boldly with their neighbors and friends. Lord, we have assurance that we will live eternally with You, but so many Hui have no such assurance. Please allow Hui people to hear the gospel and accept Your gift of salvation so that they too will have citizenship in heaven.