DEVOTION / God's Word is a wild and strong stallion

Phil Cooke, a Christian filmmaker and producer, tells about the time he interviewed Nicholas Bhengu. Time Magazine called Nicholas Bhengu the Billy Graham of Africa, because, as an African man, he had reached more Africans with the gospel than any man in history.

Bhengu’s story about the wild stallion of God’s Word

Bhengu told Cooke a story that took place many decades earlier. A young missionary couple went to Africa. But their efforts did not see any noticeable success. Years went by without a single conversion. After decades in Africa, the only person they had any relationship with was a little kid who helped them carry their gear.

They spent most of their adult lives preaching and getting no response. As a result, their denomination called them back home. The couple was humiliated. When they left, the only person that came to see them off was that little kid who tended to their gear. The couple died a few years later, absolutely convinced they'd been complete failures.

Cooke, says, "And that's when Nicholas Bhengu looked at me and said, 'But what they didn't know was that I was that little kid. God, didn't send them to reach 1,000 people or 100 people or 10 people. He sent them to reach me. And since that time, I've been able to reach more Africans than any other man in history.'"

God’s Word cannot be reined in

So far, the efforts of 316NOW -- and the efforts of all the other Christian groups that are seeking to share Jesus with Chinese people -- have not produced significant numbers of Jesus-followers, at least not when compared to China's 1.4 billion citizens.

Nonetheless, God is keeping his promise that his Word never returns to him without having an impact. He says, his Word always "accomplish[es] what I desire and achieve[s] the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

"God’s word is not chained" (2 Timothy 2:9). Like a wild stallion, it runs strong and free, wherever the Spirit directs it. It is galloping through China, though we may have to wait a generation or more to see the evidence of its roaming.

For that, especially during 316NOW's 15 Days of Prayer, we thank God.