November 25, 2019
The Next Language 12, “Nations praising God together”
It has been a blessing to worship here in Thailand with colleagues from six continents. You can tune in to the sound of these voices in the link below. These are men and women engaging in direct worship of the Lamb, but also in the task of presenting the gospel in every language. Like some of the “witnesses” in Hebrews 12 there are those in this room who have been in prison for their faith. There was even one we heard from who was scheduled to be beheaded on a Christmas Day of the not too distant past.
On the closing night before we shared communion, Dan Rulison read scripture from Hebrews 12 that referred to the cloud of witnesses that are surrounding each of us as we “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” No doubt those witnesses were the heroes of faith that were spoken of in Hebrews 11.
That imagery has always challenged and inspired me and I have been reminded in my own experience of those who are watching. At home in Alaska I enlarged about 100 portraits of language helpers that I have worked with over the years. I laminated these portraits and had them mounted overhead in the barn I named All Nations. It helps to keep things in perspective.
Many of those language helpers have preceded me to spiritual realms. The first one I worked with in Colombia was poisoned for giving us his language. Out of his sacrifice there is now a church amongst the Kogui people. He is within that cloud of witnesses now.
Many are the stories behind those portraits but we must remember that we also are a part of that cloud. We are accountable to our living Captain as well as to all his other servants with whom we run this race. We may be in isolated situations physically or geographically at times, but we are not cut off nor are we alone. May we each be aware, as Jesus was, that “the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29).
God Bless,
Larry DeVilbiss | Executive Director
Global Recordings Network USA