One of the
biggest blessings and privileges that I have received here in the DR, has been
the privilege of discipling a new believer.
Marolin is a 13 year old girl who was recently led to the Lord by Mike
and Annie. After turning her life over
to Jesus, Marolin and her brother Estarlin have been coming out to batey Concho
Primo every weekend with Mike and Annie.
Marolin loves to help with the little kids. She has a magnetic smile and a sweet
personality to which the kids are attracted.
I was not
here to witness the miracle of Marolin’s spiritual birth, but it has been
incredible for me to see the miracle of her growth. You may think that I am using the word miracle lightly here, but that is
exactly the word to describe the change in a person’s heart.
Let me give
you a little background before telling you the work that God has done in
her. Marolin has grown up in a culture
that “Christianizes” everything. You
hardly meet a person walking down the street who doesn’t believe in God or
claim that they either “are” or “were” a Christian. However, that term can be used to describe
Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist and just about everything in between - as long
as you believe in God. Hopefully you
recognize that this is not what the Bible calls a Christian for James says that
“even the devils also believe, and tremble.”
One of Satan’s weapons of warfare to keep people trapped in blindness is
to convince them that their belief in God is enough.
About a month ago, Annie and I began meeting
with Marolin. I had never before
discipled a brand new believer. (If you
have not either, let me tell you that you are missing out on seeing part of the
incredible work of God). Looking at
Marolin and her culture through my human lenses, I saw an impossible task:
change her worldview from the “religious” worldview so prevalent here in the DR
into a Biblical worldview. Well, clearly
that is not an easy task.
Marolin is seated in the center, holding the baby; and Estarlin is wearing the blue striped polo shirt in the back. |
Yet, as we have
met over the last few weeks, He has been showing me the work that He is already
doing in her. He was already
transforming her heart and mind. I only
have to be faithful to show her what the Scriptures say, it is God who does the
transforming.
I was
reminded that Jesus said in John 16 that the Holy Spirit will do the
convicting, the drawing. And that is just
what He’s done in Marolin’s life. I
didn’t have to explain that we had sinned and needed to be rescued with 45
different fancy explanations, the Holy Spirit had already done His work to show
her that she was a sinner. I didn’t need
fancy theology or eloquent words to show her that we needed a Savior. The Holy Spirit had already removed the
blinders and shown her her own need. No,
she didn’t answer all of the questions just right; and, no, her understanding
is not complete yet. But the Holy Spirit
has clearly done a work that I could not.
And we know that “He who has
begun a good work in you will complete it!” (Phil. 1:6)
God has
begun this worldview shift, this sanctification process, in Marolin’s
life. It’s not complete yet . . .there’s
still more to learn (as there always is in each of our lives) and I am so
thankful that He is allowing me to be a part of teaching her a little bit more
. . .
“With men it is impossible; but not
with God, for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)
Marolin doing what she loves . . . playing with the kids |
No comments:
Post a Comment