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Crossing Cultures Making Disciples Memoir

Open door

Over the years. In various cultures. Conversations over tea build friendships. And open doors. 

Our exchange moves from common everyday themes to the topic most essential. 

And dearest to my heart. 

Jesus.

Open door. Image by anamnesis on Unsplash.

Asking for entry

One young woman and I meet weekly for a time. She helps me learn the nuances of her language in conversation.

I pray. Asking for entry to gospel conversations. Seeking wisdom in how to share the truth with this friend who becomes dear to me.

We begin reading through Proverbs. Little by little. 

And launch discussions about various topics we encounter there.

Dark side

One day she tells me. Casually. “I told my friend yesterday not to think of me as pure. She always says I’m so pure….”

I look at my friend who covers her head and holds fast to the tenets of her religion. She is more carefully conservative than others we know here. 

“…But I have a dark side.”

She pauses. Solemn. Looks at me. “But we all do, don’t we?”

Open door

I nod. In the past she’s heard me share, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….” 

It’s not a concept that fits easily into her thinking. Or the religious teaching she follows. To her, sin is just due to weakness. Not due to the fall in the Garden.  

Her admission is an open door to talk further.

Deep breath

I sit there. Praying for wisdom. “Without Me, you can do nothing,” has been demonstrated over and over in these exchanges.

I’m skilled in cultural missteps. 

Language shortfalls. 

Jumping ahead of where she is.

So today I tread carefully. Take a deep breath. 

Say it

The surprise is what comes to mind. 

What? Is this Your idea, Lord? 

But I pray for clarity. And say it. By faith. 

“Yes. Our holy book speaks in strong terms about this darkness. It’s a condition of our hearts. We don’t have to be taught to sin. We do it naturally.”

I’ve said this before. But the next part is new.

“And God says this is why we need a circumcision of the heart.”

God made a way

She’s startled. Jerks back. Tells me I must be using the wrong word in her language. 

No. I take her to the verse

“Sin is serious. An internal issue. External cleansing can do nothing to change the state of the heart.”

She’s considering the word. Still. I can tell.

“But God made a way for us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus who lived a perfect, sinless life. Only He can save us from sin and death.”

Response

In the late afternoon we sit. She’s quiet. We’ve talked freely before. About what we believe. 

And she knows how much I care about her. 

But her response is measured. Gentle, but firm.

“That is not for me. We are different religions.”

Sigh.

Seed sown

Over the years, I recognize that seed sown is just that.

Seed sown. 

I have no control over her response or her salvation.

But I’m called to pray. Walk through the open door. Speak the truth faithfully. 

And trust the Father to use the seed for His glory. 

Still pray

At times, it seems too far to hope for. That my friend will turn and follow Jesus Christ.

But I still pray.

And hope to see her someday. Before the Throne. 

Praising the Lamb together with the multitudes gathered. From every nation, tribe, people and language. 

Lord, You alone are worthy.

“At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, so that I may make it known as I should.”
Colossians 4:3-4

What about you?

Are you watching for an open door to share the gospel? What have you learned about sowing the seed?

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15 replies on “Open door”

The hardest thing of all about telling others about Jesus—when it seems they understand but still reject his grace. And I often wonder if I said it right. Or if I said enough. Or too much. Trusting the Lord Jesus is our hope in this as well as in the rest of life!

I confessed in prayer this morning my impatience and my time-defined heart while asking God to help me trust His plans for those I love!

So appropriately shared and written with the same gentle sensitivity that the Lord works with and in each of us – no coercion, or human pushing or debate, just obedient, loving conversation across the threshold of the open door, as words of life flow in with His invitation. So may there be more tea, new and wider doors of relationship, and a more profound revelation of Him with each cup.

Not the the theme of your blog and the powerful and emotional insights, but the priceless take-away is: “I’m skilled at cultural mis-steps!” Every missionary can identify with that confession.

Beautiful post! It’s so hard when we hear those words. I sat by a man on a plane years ago and talked to him about Jesus since he inquired about the book I was reading by Tim Keller. He said he had seen too much destruction while serving in the military to believe that God loved him. I handed him my book as he exited the plane, and he said he would read it. To this day, I don’t remember his name, but I remember his face, and I hope, like you, that someone else watered seeds planted to open hearts to God. Thank you, Susan, for the millions of seeds you and your family have sewn throughout your life and ministry, and I have no doubt that you will see a bountiful harvest from your obedience one day!

Thank you for sharing this, sister, and for being faithful to sow the seed. It always gives me hope and courage to hear these experiences. We trust Him with each one and someday we will know “the rest of the story.”

We had a group of university students from EA over for a Thanksgiving meal (2 days early as they were traveling on ‘break’) At some point, Jim shared the meaning of the holiday and the concept of being thankful. We were given the opportunity to share something about which we are thankful. We gave them bilingual Bibles to “practice English.” Our next door neighbor, a believer, and also from EA, shared in their heart language. Many questions followed, very pointed ones. We had plans to get together with them after the first of the year. Then covid hit hard in their land, then ours. We texted. They were fearful. I suggested passages to read in the book given. Then their govt required their departure. No more messages. So many questions. We long to know “the rest of the story” but will trust the Lord. He knows, He calls, we plant seeds.

I would love to hear from you!

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