March 25, 2026

One of our mission partners (Global Serve International) passed on to us a recent story about a translation project they have been working on. In this SE Asian country, owning land that produces a crop is the most long-term and stable source of income they have. Therefore, getting and keeping land is massively important for the security of a family. Without the land, the family can be impoverished without any obvious way to get out of being indentured for the rest of their lives.

For example, about 10 years ago, a local man in the village of a missionary sold his land in order to buy a used car. The car broke down and the man, without the land and its income had no means to repair it. So now, he has no land, no income, no car and his children have no future.

The locals are very aware of these situations.

Therefore, when one of the young men from the village was helping with the translation of the Old Testament into his dialect, he was very interested to read how God required debts to be forgiven and slaves set free every 7th year (Deut. 15). This young man said that God must be wise to include limits on bondage.

A short while later this young man discovered the law of the Jubilee (Leviticus 25) which established that every 50 years, the land go back to the family of the original owners. All he could do was shake his head in amazement at the wisdom and goodness of God.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you wanted to tell someone, “If you think this is good, wait until you see this!!!” That is what the Old Testament does. It displays the glorious wisdom and goodness of God who cares for the needs of his people in the daily matters of life. But if you think this is good, wait until you see what God has done to care for the ultimate matters of life and life beyond death. This is what we are privileged to remember, enjoy and celebrate this Resurrection Season. This is what we are privileged to pray about in our Missions Prayer Gathering this evening.

Come and see what God has done and remember what He has promised to finish.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Luke 18:18-30 (plus 7 baptisms!)