Fasting and the Gospel
Muslim ministry
News from a ReachGlobal national ministry partner:
This month I visited Matthew and brought him a gift (korma fruit). I gave the small gift to Matthew and he received it contentedly.
After he received the korma he confessed that he was not fasting. Without being asked, he explained me the reason why he was not fasting. It was because he was not strong enough to do it.
"Whew, how about that? People said this is a blissful month. This is a chance to do the religious service and do as much as possible good deeds so that those who get much merit will get into heaven. If we could not use this chance, so there is no hope to get heaven, right?" I said to put my self in his position.
"There is no hope!" he submitted. "It is hard to fast for one full month. I can’t stand it," he said.
"Actually, fasting was not only for us. God’s people in the past were also asked to do fasting. But God said: ‘I do not like your fasting’ to them," I said. Then I told him a story from Isaiah 58. It was about how God criticized the Jew’s way in fasting. I continued the story about fasting written on Mathew 6. Matthew listened to me carefully. "So we could wash our hands or our body if it is dirty. But if our heart is dirty, how to clean it?" I asked him.
"Of course we have to do good deeds!" he said.
"The problem is our heart has been dirty already. Is it possible to do good deeds if our mind is evil, our heart is dirty. Moreover, can we put our sins away by doing good deeds? A dirty heart is like a dark room. Can the darkness chase itself away? What to do to enlighten the dark room?" I said.
"Of course we have to turn on the lamp!" he replied shortly.
"It’s true. It is the light that can chase away the darkness. We could ignite candle, flashlight or lamp that the darkness will go. And so is our heart. The light must come to wash away the evil. None can do it but God. He is the one who can enlighten and clean up our hearts. "Then I told him about the first sin done (Adam and Eve) and God’s promise about the salvation, and the story of Isa Almasih. "Have you ever heard a story about Isa the prophet?" I asked.
Suddenly Matthew said, "He is the prophet who was crucified, wasn’t he?"
"The holy book said all people have sinned and have to die as the result. There was no hope for us to get into heaven even though we did much good deed. But God loves men. God loves you and me. So, as I believe in Isa’s sacrifice, the heaven is mine. Same thing happens if you believe that Isa Almasih died for you. You definitely will be in heaven after you die. Our good deeds are only our thanks to God," I explained him in detail and repeated it to make sure that he understood."
After we shared, we prayed together in the name of Isa Almasih for two hours.
Praise and pray
- Praise God for Matthew’s open heart.
- Remember Matthew in prayer as he considers the truth of the gospel!
- Pray for other Muslims who are also considering the truth of the gospel.
