Mark Brink
Jan 1, 20222 min
As we enter the new year of 2022, we must look past the challenges of this past year and into a steadfast faith and commitment of what God wants to do in this new year. “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Phil 3:13). We have not progressed this far to think that we have walked this path in our own power. His grace has sustained us. Looking back only gives us regrets and what ifs, but looking forward gives us hope as we place ourselves in the hands of the Lord who says “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). He is working to refine us into the image of His Son. Through His good work in us, others will see His glory.
As you contemplate what your posture will be toward reaching Muslims in this new year, I suggest a few commitments to help you fulfill the desire that every Muslim know the truth about Jesus Christ.
Commit yourself to the Church of Jesus Christ. The local “church” is God’s ordained instrument in this world to build His Kingdom. Scripture warns that as the return of the Lord draws near people will neglect the importance of gathering together with the body of Christ (Heb. 10:25). The Church is God’s means to reach the world for Christ.
Commit yourself to a life of prayer. Commit to pray daily for Muslims and join the weekly Jumaa Prayer Fellowship as over 60,000 people intercede for lost Muslim peoples. As Walter Wink states, “History belongs to the intercessors—those who believe and pray the future into being.”
Commit yourself to sacrificial giving for His Kingdom. We must make missions a priority in our financial giving as we invest our worldly treasures into the only eternal commodity—the souls of mankind. As we see the return of our Lord being imminent, we commit to the priority of using our means for the evangelization of those who have never the gospel.
Commit yourself to personal evangelism. It is not enough to just give money or pray. We must also get personally involved in sharing the gospel in our community. You do not have to travel overseas to do the work of an evangelist. There is power in sharing your personal testimony of how Christ has transformed your life. Through word and deed, share the hope of Jesus with all those with whom you come in contact in your sphere of influence.
In recent days, we have heard much about “supply chain” problems that are preventing goods from reaching the stores. In the Christian sphere, we must ensure that we do not have a supply chain problem in regards to the delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must give our lives to make sure that people without the gospel, such as Muslims, have the opportunity to receive the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. I challenge you this year to commit yourself to the church, prayer, giving, and personal evangelism. These are vital New Year’s commitments.