Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:21–22
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
THE BN* PEOPLE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA greatly respected Budi.* Some even feared him. In their culture, he was known as a powerful “dukun”—a witch doctor. Wherever Budi went, he carried a mighty dagger that was believed to hold powers for healing, protection, and a host of other things. Everyone knew he was not to be trifled with.
What they didn’t know was that Bible translation was coming to their part of the world, and with it was a force more powerful than any Budi had ever known: the Holy Spirit. National translators came from all over the region to help, and when Budi read Scripture in the Bn language for the first time, the Holy Spirit pierced his heart in a way he never knew possible. He’s been a changed man ever since. “I’ve given up my ‘powerful dagger’ and replaced it with Christ,” Budi said.
Today, Budi is thrilled to be part of the body of Christ and is actively helping to translate the New Testament into the Bn language using the MAST strategy.
An extra blessing with MAST is that people who come to observe the process often end up inviting Jesus into their lives. Last year, three MAST workshops were held for the Bn translation. Thirty-four people in their community opened their hearts to the one true God. Praise God that others like Budi are coming to accept Christ too.
Join us in prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the purifying power of Your truth for those like Budi who are far from You. Please help me to walk in obedience and to love all Your people deeply. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
*Names changed for security reasons.
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