From the Back Pew: Reflections of India Day 3

Day 3

Details of the Day

Day 3 found us traveling several hours to our next village to preach and teach to local pastors, their wives, and other members of churches. We traveled to this little church in the middle of fields, yet again. It was actually quite a beautiful scene. As we gathered, I noticed the space was small, like the others and I wasn't sure what to expect in numbers. Sri determined we would have about 40 or so, but we ended up with 93! It was here that some of the biblical text came to life for me. We read of Jesus teaching in homes and a crowd would gather to listen. The house packed, but the outside full too, listening from the windows and doors. This was the same!

It was here that I began to preach the sermon that was close to what I was supposed to preach, but not the text I used. I spoke from Philippians about suffering well. It fell flat in my mind and just wasn't there. It was hard because this, ultimately, is what I was burdened to do while in India. To encourage these brothers and sisters in Christ to be strong in the Lord, stand firm on the gospel, and endure faithfully. Something that is hard to proclaim when I won't face much of anything compared to what they can face. The Lord would later use a message for that purpose. I spoke first so I had the rest of the time to reflect. I admit I didn't listen much to Russ or Brett because I was so frustrated with how my sermon went. I prayed for the Lord to give me something. My mind rested upon Ps. 121 and I couldn't shake it. Was this what I was supposed to preach? Was this for me? I just wrestled with the text in my soul. The Lord had plans though...

Lunch Time!

Our lunch time consisted of going to the local pastor's home where his wife prepared a wonderful meal for us. There was a couple of reasons for this. One was simply space as there were so many people at the church. The other was to show hospitality by having someone in the home. This was quite common to be invited to the pastor's homes. We would have discussions and pray for them. It was hard at first to be pulled away from the rest of the people as it felt like special treatment. To a degree this was true, but then I began to remember the Scriptures that speak of showing hospitality. In 3 John, the apostle commends Gaius, a Christian church leader for his hospitality, "Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). They have testified to your love before the church..." (5,6) Being welcomed into homes was a sign of honor, but being obedient to the Word of God for these pastors and their wives!

Courtyard of pastor's home

We ended the day with a ride back to the city and a stop at a believer's home who we were asked to pray over. The matriarch of the family was ill and had been for some time. They, at times, felt a dark oppressiveness in their home and they sought the elders to come and pray. In particular, they wanted us to pray over this woman by anointing her with oil. James 5 offers this as prescription for those who are ill. "Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with olive oil in the name of the Lord." (14) We had Sri anoint her as a direct elder and then we proceeded to pray for her healing. We then prayed over the home and read Scripture. This is where earlier Ps. 121 was to come into play. I was to read this over the family. It was to encourage and strengthen this family who was struggling. Perhaps the Lord didn't use me for preaching this day as much as I thought, but certainly to encourage this amazing family by His Word. It is amazing how God determines what He wants for you or how He wants to use you.

Reflections of Day 3

There are a couple of reflections from this day. The first is how the Lord uses us. I went in this day with the assumption my I would be delivering a great message to encourage pastors and wives. Fulfilling my purpose for even being in India. Well, I did, but not in the manner in which I thought it would happen. Often we get frustrated by the manner in which God uses us. In many ways, what happened later that evening during this time of prayer felt "lesser" then preaching to 93 people. Truly, that is just my pride talking. What I don't know is how that time of prayer and Scripture reading impacted that family. This family that included a little girl who desired to be a teacher of the Word, to be bold. A girl who soaked in everything that took place while we were in their home. That little girl can tell her friends of these pastors who came to pray for her grandmother, who prayed over them, who spoke God's Word to them because it is the truth. This family is a staple to a local church, who will impact many through ministry and proclamation of the gospel. Sure, I may not have "reached" 93 people like I wanted, but what if God wanted to reach someone in this family that will have a ripple effect? A ripple effect that started with a simple prayer and Scripture reading.

The second reflection pertains to the hospitality shown. They gave us their best. They took time, energy, money, and effort to treat us like family. Because...we are family in Christ. That is one of the beautiful things about the gospel. It connects us via Christ to one another. We may speak different languages, have different customs and food, or have little or plenty. In Jesus, it doesn't matter. Something that can be lost in American churches. Fellowship of believers in homes speaks powerfully. Inviting someone into your home is a sacred space. It is your space and to bring another in is important. When we have someone over to our house we make sure it is clean, we prepare a meal, and we take time, energy, money, and effort to make it nice for the guests. Why? Well, sometimes it can be so their opinion of us is not lesser. But, moreover it speaks to the fact these people matter. This is the heart of Christian hospitality. These people matter.