From our International Director

Posted on 31 July 2009.

John 11 records how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and how He guided Lazarus' sisters through these events. Verse 20 says: "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him."

Later, verse 29 says: "As soon as Mary heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him." What a challenge these two ladies give to us. In the midst of deep personal pain and grief at the loss of their brother, they did the one thing they knew to do - they went to Jesus. What a picture of prayer that is!

Selwyn Hughes wrote graphically about Martha and Mary: "There is no ‘Wailing Wall' in the Christian Church... Of course... in Jerusalem thousands of Jews visit the remains of Solomon's Temple - the Western Wall - and there pray for their personal needs and the restoration of the Temple. It has come to be known as the ‘Wailing Wall' because of the anguish that is poured out before those ancient stones. Christianity, however, has no such spot. The place where Christians congregate and linger when they visit Jerusalem is not the Wailing Wall but the open tomb... One stops at a Wailing Wall, the other starts at an open tomb... Mary's neighbours could not think of any course of action except that - to go and wail in helplessness and despair. (Mary and) Martha, however, did not go to the tomb, but to a person - Jesus."

I find those words challenging. I may not go to a ‘Wailing Wall', but is my reaction to turn to the Lord in prayer? It is our hope, as we monthly provide these China prayer updates, that they will help each of us to pray for China, its leadership and its people. As we read through the six days above, there is much that should cause us to carry the needs of believers and unbelievers alike to the Lord Jesus - the One who can raise the dead, care for the orphan, and bless, protect and increase His people.

Spend time before the Lord asking whether our first reaction is to wail or to turn to the wail-remover, the Lord Jesus.

Pray that the Lord will bless His church in China afresh with a new movement of prayer, a new generation of prayer warriors.

Pray that the Lord would raise up more prayer meetings for China. Might the Lord be asking you to start such a prayer meeting?