Many of you have read my December post on what the Lord is doing among the Moi people of Papua, Indonesia through the Browns and other New Tribes missionaries.
This week I received a response to that post from a dear family friend, Ron Hoffman. Ron and his wife Eileen are themselves retired missionaries. Ron was moved, after reading Rich's story, to share his meditations.
You may want to take a peek at Rich Brown's post to refresh your memory. Then read and be encouraged by Ron's inspiring devotional response:
After reading the Browns’ experience with the Moi People, my mind went to the Apostle Paul when he visited the city of Corinth. Here was a city known to be without the true God. It was common to hear at the time that when one was self-indulgent and controlled by sensuality, he was said to be “living like a Corinthian.”
When Paul began preaching at Corinth, the Lord spoke to him in a vision one night,
Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. Acts 18:9, 10 NIV
As with the Browns, Paul was seeking to “see a church born from ashes.” Apparently, fear that this might not happen crept into Paul’s life. The Lord was reminding Paul that it was His Church and His people. Paul’s responsibility was to present the Gospel, and it was the Holy Spirit who would bring the Corinthians to salvation. The results – Paul stayed a year and a half teaching the Word of God as the church continued to grow.