"Stephen, a man full of God’s grace…." Acts 6:8a
An appointment had been arranged to meet Iman at her
home but when I got there no one was there.
I waited in the car for fifteen minutes, left a message on her phone and
then returned home. The next day she called and apologized and gave her
reason. Another visit was rebooked. She opened the door with some nervousness. I
knew she was embarrassed about forgetting before. This was my opportunity to show grace and show
acceptance of her.
The next day I visited Masooma who is often quite
frazzled emotionally. The visiting time had been arranged but when I knocked on
her door she didn’t answer. The same thing was happening two days in a row? Impatience
started rising up. Putting my ear to her
door I could hear the shower running.
After waiting fifteen minutes I knocked numerous times and then left a
message on her phone. Still no answer. Disappointed I walked back to my car. I was
just about to drive off when she called.
Returning to her suite I prayed for grace and forbearance. Masooma
braced herself for an angry reaction. Praise God He helped me.
Karima didn’t show up at my party even though invited.
No apology was given. She would have been very upset if I had done the same to
her. When I saw her next I asked what had happened. Someone else… her “enemy”,
was invited, too, and she couldn’t bear the sight of him nor be in the same
room as him, so she decided not to come. I had to watch my words and attitude
carefully as I responded to her.
Zahra, a Muslim background believer, shared with me her
observations about a certain ministry situation. She was closely watching the
leader’s response to the injustice and insensitivities which he was the brunt
of. That wise leader knew there is more
lasting spiritual work accomplished walking
through suffering with grace and humility than when everything appears
successful. The people we are ministering among are watching us.
Perhaps we may be wrongly accused, used, attacked,
spat on, rejected, ignored, despised, betrayed, swindled, unthanked,
misunderstood, or deported. Such situations loom painfully magnified to us but
much bigger things than those is when a loved one has been murdered by a
zealous misguided Muslim; something unfathomable and unknown to me personally. My mom and dad, who were pioneer missionaries
among the Somalis, walked through numerous stressful situations. We were not
stoned, like Stephen, but I remember many stones being thrown at us and at our
house. Not only Somali Muslims and believers watched their reactions but I,
their child, watched them, too. I am so
grateful for their godly gracious lives. They loved the Somalis unconditionally.
Learning how to be a gracious Christian is really picked up more by observation
and experience than from books, dvds, or classes. Sometimes I blow it in
ministry. I haven’t graduated yet from
the School of Grace. I am the undeserving recipient of abundant grace from Jesus.
Thank you, dear Savior! Grace is a beautiful gift to receive and to
give.
Dear heavenly Father, help me never to stop giving
gifts of grace to others. Make me a woman FULL of grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
