It’s December! A month of hurried preparations, of plays and musicals telling of the birth of the Christ child. A month of decorating and parties. This morning I read Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. And I read this—Simeon’s prayer while holding that Christ child:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
Did you catch that? Jesus Christ came to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” That’s what Bible translation is all about—bringing the light of Jesus Christ to all those waiting and waiting for Scripture in their own heart languages.
The month of December, for Wycliffe Associates, is raising the funds to equip Bible Translators with the tools of translation—until the gospel is in every language and the light of Jesus Christ shines on the people of every language group in the world.
In the coming days you will read letters and emails from our President Bruce Smith about national Bible translators risking their lives to get Scripture to their people. You’ll read of villagers who were evangelized, who are believers, but have never read about their Savior in their own heart language.
So, I ask you to pray with me over each communication you receive in the coming days requesting funds for the tools required for Bible translators anxious to give their people the story of the birth of Jesus in the language of their hearts.
Please pray with me that hearts will be open to give a new Christmas gift—the gift of funding computer tablets for national Bible translators ready to do the work of translation for their own.
This morning I also read the prophecy of Bethlehem:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah 5:2 (NIV)
How do you feel about the millions who have no Bible? All the people who have never heard or read the promises of a Holy God—who have never read the prophecy fulfilled by Jesus Christ the Son of God. Pray with me that God will stir the minds of all those reading these communications about providing Tablets for National Translators . . . for the sake of people who’ve never seen a Bible in the language of their heart!
I know your prayers are part of God’s work to bring salvation to the people of this earth. Your prayers hold back the harassment of the evil one. So, my dear prayer partners, please pray with me that God will be honored by the gifts of His people for Bible translation to move forward in the coming New Year.
May each one of you be truly blessed in your gift of prayer during this Christmas season.
