March 17, 2011

Praying for Japan














I have a friend who lives in Japan next to the prefecture of Sendai.  As soon as I heard what had happened to the people of Japan he was on my mind.  I was so relieved to hear from him on Facebook and although he and his family are alive things are very difficult right now.  So many people are hurting and grieving and reeling from all the chaos that has befallen them.

As time goes by the body count will rise.  It is something that all the survivors are trying not to think about right now.  But as food and water supplies continue to dwindle and the days turn into weeks the Japanese people will be put to the greatest test yet... endurance. 

My friend, Takamasa Maki, is in his late teens. I had met him at church here in the US.  We had wonderful conversation about the Christian church in Japan.  And he shared with me how the Christians were quite few in number, as a general rule.   

I don't believe everything bad that happens to people or nations is directly associated with God's wrath but the tragedy atop tragedy atop tragedy that has hit Japan does make me believe it is possible in this case. Takamasa said with great sadness that there were few Christians in Japan because of the intense pull of materialism and entertainment. People in his culture simply had no need for God. 

The terrible events that have happened in Japan are absolutely devastating. But I believe the Christians there now have a unique opportunity to witness and share their hope in Jesus as they never could before.  It is my prayer that Japan not only receive all their physical needs but that the Christian church will see a revival. 

If what is happening in Japan today is because of God acting I believe that he is still merciful.  God never "loses it" with his anger or judgements.  He always measures how much happens to the world and the people in it.   Psalm 103  verses 9, 10, and 14 say:

" He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust."

 Please keep the Japanese people in your prayers and, if you can, remember my friend Takamasa Maki.   May the Lord be glorified through all this and may thousands come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 


4 comments:

Amrita said...

Very caring and moving post S. We are all grieving for the people of japan.

May this lead many to the foot of the cross - when they realize the uncertainity and brevity of life and that wealth and technology cannot save them.

Will pray that Christians in Japan may find oppurtunities to share the Gospel

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi,

What is happening in Japan should not have happened at all.This calamity is heart rending. It is too sad and unbelievable. Why should such horrendous things happen to mankind whether in Japan or any where else?

I agree materialism has taken over the world, money has become the primary motivating factor and accumulation of wealth has become the major concern of present day human beings. They have no time for God, they have no fear of God. Money provides all comforts and present comforts are more enjoyable than promises of future bliss. So men have forgotten about the Almighty God.

A few years back India also faced a psunami and many people died and other lost all their life's earnings.Those who survived the psunami will live with the horror all their lives.

I pray to God to save Japan from further death and destruction. Nuclear melt down is hovering over Japan and this will be very serious if it happens.

This is the time for all of us to join our hands and pray to God to spare Japan.
Joseph

Sincerity said...

Amrita: Thank you and yes do pray for the Christians in Japan. They need our support now more than ever before!

Joseph: Yes the nuclear threat is still precarious. Thank you for praying. It amazes me how we can all feel so self-sufficient when we have more than we need. You are correct that materialism is plaguing the whole world.

May God be able to reach all of our hearts and show us what is most important before all our nations must be so shaken.

Tracy said...

I'm in total agreement with your prayers for Japan.