In our lesson on Crisis Visits, we read a passage from Mathew 25: 35-36. The point is that there are people in need in every culture, society, and country. The point of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 is the end times and what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. When it comes to people in need the Kingdom of Heaven does not differentiate because when we help those in need it is the people we help and by helping them it is Jesus we serve. What Jesus says in verse 35-36 is a surprise to Christians who see addressing people’s needs as a way of serving. Lord, they say: when did we see you in need? Jesus replies: what you did for the least of these brothers (sisters) of mine you did for me. That puts crisis visits and addressing the needs of people we visit in a whole different perspective and it convicts us as well. How easy it is to say what the other group says, in fact they repeat what the first group asks Jesus: Lord, when did we see you in need? When we justify our refusal to help with; let them get a job, or they refuse to work, or it is drink or drugs that cause these needs we miss the point of serving. There are reasons that course needs among  people but it is never that simple and there still are real needs in families no matter what their situation.  We need to recognize those needs and extend a helping hand that must include rehabilitation, directing people to agencies that can help and we must meet that immediate need. There is nothing easy or clear cut about it, yet it is urgent because we know what Jesus says to that second group in the passage. He says: as much as you did not do anything for them you did not do it for me. May Jesus not have the occasion to say that to us?

Yesterday we went to worship at the Bible School since they had me on the preaching schedule.  I preached on Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23). When coming to a Bible school as a student or a teacher you ask your self why? Gremar and I also ask ourselves why come to the Rural Church Council area of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria in Niger State?  Indeed it is a question all of us must ask ourselves about the many things we do. We answer that question tapping into God’s purpose for the people of this area; encouragement for Christians, converts are under extreme pressure from unconverted relatives to leave the way of Jesus. We also want to exemplify the way of Jesus in our lives; we want to have the opportunity to speak about God’s love in Jesus and God’s care for the church, his people by the power of his Spirit. God’s purpose is what Paul writes about and prays about in this passage. Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians because he is impressed by their faith and their love for all the saints.

Paul keeps praying for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know God better.  That is a prayer we also must pray as we work with Pastors and Evangelists and we pray that for all Christians everywhere. Paul goes on to pray for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened so that they know the hope to which they are called. That is our prayer as well that Christians here would know God’s will for their lives; understand God’s purpose for calling them and saving them from the bondage of Traditional African Religion, a practice that enslaves them to the worship of ancestors, to the drinking and pouring of out of beer for them, and an extreme fear of death that is, according to them never caused by natural process. We pray along with Paul that we all may know God’s incomparable great power, God’s mighty strength working through Jesus’ resurrection and working in us, the church because Christ is her head and we are the body of Christ. We are encouraged and revived to continue to preach and teach the Word even in difficult situations and to hard hearts because God calls us, Jesus equips us, and the Spirit empowers us. Praise the Lord! 

I taught at the Bible School today, the lesson was how to prepare to do visitation with church members in need. To highlight the importance of preparation we read Mathew 25:1-13. “At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like…” Jesus says. At the end of time and we are in the end times; yet no one knows only the Father when that time will be. The point is: Be prepared! That is what this parable is about. The ten virgins represent the universal church. We are all waiting for the coming of the Jesus, for the wedding feast to begin. Five virgins were wise, they had extra oil for their lamps since the groom could come at any time, especially when they least expected it. Five virgins were foolish; they had filled their lamps but did not have extra oil. Today as well, it seems to be a long time that Jesus has been on the way back, is he ever going to come we ask? The virgins grew drowsy and fell asleep; take note they all fell asleep. Like the ten virgins the church has fallen asleep; we worry about legalities, about fine points of theology and spend our time in endless discussion about things that have nothing to do with salvation itself and we worry very little about those not ready to meet Christ. Today it is hard to know who is ready (has extra oil) and who is not ready. The oil is the thinking of Jesus, the Way of Jesus, the Words of Jesus, and the actions of Jesus. That is the oil we need but our lamps are barely on, turned down for the long nap we are in. If we are to be ready we must have extra oil (all of the characteristics of Jesus) if the church is going to shine brightly up to the time of Jesus’ return. Those who have taken on the difficulty and the suffering of being like Jesus in all that they say and do will be ready to meet the King (bridegroom). But those who have taken the easy way out and not made the sacrifices that go along with real Christianity will be left behind. Jesus does not know them, verse 12. “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

The housing is good at Mahula

Today I taught at the Bible school, Lesson three, they are doing well with their visitation asignments. I also preached at the Bible School chapel, I picked Matthew 5:13-16 as the passage. Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth but if salt loses its flavor it is not good for anything.  Jesus also says we are the light of the world but if we put that light under a bushel it has no use. I picked these verses because of the discussions that I have been having with the Pastors and the Evangelist in my course. What is needed in this area according to these men is that Christians should be more like Jesus. That sounds familiar; if anything is needed in the States is that Christians should be more like Jesus. This discussion that I have been having with these men highlights for me, for them, and for leaders everywhere the importance of leaders to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to be the salt of the earth. Salt brings out the flavor, that which is hidden in God’s Word discerned only by the Spirit of God. Salt has healing properties; an encouraging word is life for the discouraged. Salt has preservation qualities; the cares of this world are lighter by God’s grace. But if we as Christians have lost our saltiness there is no benefit for anyone.

We are the light of the world. Light shows us the path to walk on, the path of Jesus as we find it in Scripture.  Light shows us the right way of living and leads us to what is right in God’s eyes. Light allows us fellowship with God and with each other, nothing is hidden, all our actions are in daylight. We are a light to each other but also to the world around us. A city on a hill lit up cannot be hidden. What does all this have to do with Jesus? Jesus is life and that life is the light of men ( John1:4). Where can people see Jesus, where can they meet Jesus, where can they get to know Jesus today? One place is the Scriptures and the only other place is you and me, the people of God, the church, His body. You and I may be the only Bible some people will ever read. It is therefore of utmost importance that we are like Jesus, take on His attitude, and His actions, and His way of giving Himself for others. Are we ready

Getting to the Bible school, 3 Kl., is a difficult short drive with places that will be impassable during the rainy season.

Today, Sunday we visited one of the smaller churches in the area. This place does not have an evangelist or pastor living on site so a person from this village attending the Bible school is assigned there. If you take note of the map you will be able to find the places that we visit and their relationship to each other. The place we visited was Tungun Basalla which is on the main road. A couple of things about the map: The Church has become the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN). The only places where missionaries live currently are at the Bible School and periodically at Mahula. These two places are about three kilometers apart. The former mission housing at Idaci, Momo, Maretu, and Komfani are occupied by Nigerian CRCN staff. This is a young church and needs much prayer. Pray for the Evangelists and the Pastors, for the church leaders and the church members. There is much opposition to the gospel by those following traditional African worship. Pray for the people digging bore holes and installing hand pumps, often that activity cracks open the door for the gospel. Last but not least pray for the missionaries assigned here and to the different areas of the country; especially for the missionaries here; at Acre (The Bible School) and at Mahula. They contend with oppressive heat, (today 106 in the shade 130 in direct sun) very difficult travel conditions, years of language learning and isolation from other missionaries. The one good thing we now have in Nigeria is good cell phone service and accessibility to the internet which makes it much easier to communicate with each other here, with you and our loved ones at home.  I do think that the ease of communication with loved ones, while a blessing, slows down our interpersonal relationships with the people around us. Please pray for the work in Niger State!