Daily Topic for October 27, 2009
At first, Joshua’s response to the defeat at Ai predictably focused on the shame and reproach it brought to Israel. Then Joshua realized that the defeat would encourage the peoples of Canaan to despise Israel’s God as well. Are we, as God’s people, aware of the impact of our sin and disobedience on the nations of the earth today? Are we concerned about the scorn our spiritual weakness brings on the name of our God? Are we concerned enough to repent, confess our sin, and seek holiness?
Pray that we will bring glory, not shame to His great Name, so that Buddhist peoples like the Chakma people will be drawn to Him.
There are ruined palaces and temples in the Chakma homeland, located near the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar. A Chakma tour guide led Western tourists through the ruins, past trees and vines. “My people once had great respect because we settled the disputes of others. Hundreds of years ago we were rich and powerful. ‘Chak’ actually means ‘witness’ in our language.” The tourists were impressed with the guide’s knowledge of Chakma history.
Today the Chakmas worship Buddha and farm the hills that form the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. They are no longer politically powerful. This people group has been conquered many times since the collapse of their empire in the 18th Century. They have neither Bibles nor gospel radio broadcasts in their language, but they do have gospel recordings. Only a handful of Chakmas have come to know Christ as their Savior. Today the Chakmas have few witnesses to tell them about Jesus Christ and the true path to salvation.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray that the Bible and the JESUS Film would be translated into the Chakma language. Pray for the start of gospel radio broadcasts in the Chakma language. Pray that gospel recordings, which are in their tongue, will become widely available in their communities. May God lead a mission agency to begin outreach to the Chakma people. Ask God to empower the few Chakma believers to take the message of salvation to their own communities.-WK
Next day: Buddhist Burmese People in Bangladesh
Previous day: Buddhist Arakanese People in Bangladesh