Keep it Going

Because of economic realities on Sumatra, Sumatrans are very good and fixing things and keeping them going as opposed to buying new and replacing broken machinery. These Duano men are working on fixing the motor for a fishing boat.

With most things being patched up and wired together, it’s not uncommon to have things break down. This leads to an uncertainty about what will get done during the day. Sumatrans will often predicate all of their plans with the phrase, “If God wills.” The point being that they have no idea what’s going to break or what obstacle will come up to slow them down. In such an environment, fatalism is a natural response.

Sumatrans are so used to things being outside their control that many times they do not realize the things that are in their control. For example, they do have a choice about how they relate to God. If they want, they can believe the Gospel and have their sins forgiven. Many Sumatrans do not see this freeing fact. Just as they were destined to have many things break down because of their economic realities, they are destined to be Muslim because of cultural realities. They think it is the will of God, and they can’t do anything about it.

John 3:16 reminds us that whosoever believes can be saved because of God’s big love for all peoples. The evil one has blinded millions of Sumatrans so that they cannot comprehend this truth. What they have may not be working well, but they doggedly keep it going because they can’t imagine it any other way.

Pray for blind eyes on Sumatra to be open to see the truth of God’s big love.

Pray for Sumatrans to have courage to reject cultural norms that keep them from God.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to help Sumatrans to resist the apathy of fatalism and take responsibility for the things that are in their control.

Pray for workers to not grow weary in sharing the Gospel with people who seem unable to even comprehend the choice that is being offered to them.