God is doing a new thing

Whilst we celebrate our past, we are grounded in the present and remain hopeful of a new future for the Arab world. Certainly there are many, many more national believers now than when workers were first sent out in 1881. We honour those who have persevered through difficult circumstances, prayed intensely, loved practically and nurtured emerging fellowships of national believers. Although much has changed in the last 140 years, there are still millions of Arab peoples who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.

We worship a God who is active

I have been reminded of Isaiah 43 recently in considering how the Lord continues to be at work from generation to generation.

In the opening verses, the Lord is reminding the people of Israel that He created them, He formed them and He knows them. He has redeemed them and will fight for them as part of His covenant commitment. In verse 2, there are echoes of rescue from Egypt and declaration of the historic and present relationship between Yahweh and Israel. In verse 14 and 16, the Lord then speaks through Isaiah of rescuing Israel from Babylon.

But the chapter hits a high point in verses 18 and 19. Here the message changes and focuses upon the present and the future together.

We worship a God who initiates

Since the Lord is in the habit of doing a new thing, it is exciting to imagine what the spiritual landscape might look like in the next 10, 20 or 140 years in the Arab world.

One thing is certain, there will be a great need for the next generation to hear the gospel. We have a great privilege and responsibility to young people in our families and churches, to nurture them in God’s mission, and to disciple them as they bring the good news of the Kingdom of God to others.

It strikes me that the Lord continues to burn passionately for people who don’t yet know Him, and He will initiate more prompts for people to be sent to share this good news, as He seeks to transform the spiritual landscape.