Greetings! I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. God has been so gracious to us. Thank you for praying for me and for the work God is doing in Colombia and throughout the world. Prayer is a crucial part of the missionary task. May the word of Christ continue to speed ahead and be glorified throughout the world.
This past month, I have been meeting with “Mike,” a Puinave man from GuainÌa, near the Venezuelan border. Life is difficult for them as they try to eke out a living. They have lived in several places throughout the city. Pray that God will give me to wisdom I need to minister to him and his family.
Please continue to pray for my friend “Ted.” He has recently returned to Vaupés. Before he left, I was able to make a few good visits with him and encourage with the Word. Pray that my friends in Vaupés can continue to minister to him there.
A few weeks ago, I was able to visit another part of thew country. I went to Risaralda and Quindío. (Both are areas known for their coffee). I worked with national believers who work with some colleagues of mine who are currently in the States. I assisted with a short, introductory, missionary training at a church that is looking to start working among nearby indigenous groups. I was also able to visit an indigenous community. It was good to see another part of the country and see other works that are going on.
I am also meeting with the Wounaan once a week. We have just finished Ephesians and are beginning to read through 1 Peter together. At times, it’s just me and “Silas,” and sometimes others are there too. Silas will often translate our discussions of into Woumeo. Pray that the Word will do its work to save the lost and sanctify believers.
Continue to pray for the Embera Katío and Embera Chamí. Right now, there are ≈1,300 Embera living in one city park and ≈1,000 more living in another. Among them is a Katío I used to visit three years ago before he returned to Chocó. His name is “Eli.” He and his family have returned to Bogota because of the violence in Chocó. Please pray that God will give me the wisdom needed to minister to them during this difficult time.
Again, thank you for your prayers. Pray that the Name of Christ would be great among the nations.
Luke 17:11-19
11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered a village, ten men with leprosy who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 But Jesus responded and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
We see several truths about our Lord in this short passage. Earlier in Luke, Jesus set His face like flint toward Jerusalem (9:51) where He would suffer, die, and rise again (9:22; 18:32-33). This is why He is going to Jerusalem—to take upon Himself the penalty for our sins that we might be saved.
One truth we see here is that Jesus comes near to us in our troubles, our sufferings, and our deepest needs. He is like the Father embracing the prodigal son in Luke 15. He is the one who seeks and saves the lost (19:10). That is wonderful news for sinners like us.
We also see that Jesus hears our cries for mercy. When we cry out, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner” (18:13), He is there ready to forgive us all of our sins and to clothe us with His perfect righteousness. This forgiveness and righteous is received by faith. These men went away [both in obedience to Jesus and OT law (Lev 14)] to show themselves to the priest believing the promise of cleansing. And as they went they were cleansed. The Samaritan who would not have been accepted in the temple returned and presented himself to the Great High Priest (Heb 4:14-16) and with a heart filled with thankfulness began to worship Him.
According to OT Law, a sacrifice of cleansing would have been required. Jesus Himself is our sacrifice of cleansing (Zec 13:1; Heb 10). He receives people of all nations (13:29), for all who comes to Him in faith. He set His face toward Jerusalem and gave His life for us. Now, forgiveness of sin is proclaimed to the nations (24:45-47). May these truths fill us with gratitude and thanksgiving and incline our hearts to worship Jesus as they did for the Samaritan.
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