One of the primary ways God is drawing Muslims to Himself is through simple Bible studies that highlight passages of scripture from Creation through the Resurrection. The Waha app contains many story sets that have been translated into dozens of languages. Throughout the 30 days we will pray through these story sets that reveal Jesus, the Word made flesh.
As you read these familiar passages, prayerfully imagine what it would be like to read them for the first time – to see the wisdom, power, beauty, and authority of God and to be drawn to trust in Christ and yield your allegiance to Him.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ‘ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ “
Three beautiful pictures of lost things are described in this passage. They reveal how much God rejoices when the lost are returned to Him and the extreme lengths He is willing to go in order to find them.
This passage teaches us that there are two lost sons. One son is lost because he rejected relationship with the Father and sinfully wastes his life with reckless living. The other son is lost because he keeps all the rules — not out of love for the Father, but for what he hopes to gain from him. The world is filled with both kinds of people: those who live in open rebellion like the younger son and those who, like the older son, pursue religious obedience in hopes of earning God’s favor.
Islam does not teach that God is a Father, nor that He gently goes after the lost, picking them up and placing them on His shoulders like the lost sheep described in this passage.
Ines suffered from bipolar disorder and had a difficult relationship with her husband. She had only known threats of God’s judgment and punishment, not His gentle love. When she met Christ, she struggled to understand what she was experiencing. She said, “I feel an overwhelming amount of joy. But you know, I got used to being sad, I didn’t even know how to live with joy anymore. I was confused, scared, and I always wanted to cry. Now, I feel so much joy—real joy from my heart. I don’t know what it is that made God love me like this. He is present with me all the time, in every moment, in every second. I always feel Him telling me, ‘You are safe. Do not be afraid.'”
Pray for many in this land to experience the same joy described in Luke 15 – the joy of the lost son as the Father runs towards him – this same joy that Ines struggled to put into words.
Thank you God, for the way this story points us to our perfect heavenly Father and to our true, noble, and selfless Older Brother.
We pray for many in this land to live as described in Romans 8:12-17, according to the Spirit. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” We ask that You would free people here from the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, and that they may receive the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom they would cry, “Abba! Father.”
Holy Spirit, please bear witness that many among this people are children of God. And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ – provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.