Theme of the month: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 16: HAPPY LIVING ... EVEN IF YOU ARE THE ONLY BELIEVER IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Over the past few days I received various e-mails from readers asking me to write something about how to live happy when your spouse is an unbeliever, if you are the only believer in the workplace or if their children decided to walk away from God. Is this your question today?

I recently heard the story of a missionary who felt led to go and do missionary work amongst a specific group of unreached people. Initially, he hoped that he would find an interpreter to convey the message he wanted to bring across. However this did not happen. After a few months of struggling to communicate, the missionary decided to go live in a hut just outside the village. There he prayed daily for the people, while demonstrating Jesus’ character through his actions towards the people in the village.

Shortly after the missionary’s death, another group of missionaries arrived at the village. Using interpreters, they started to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ with the people. Immediately the locals were open and receptive. When asked whether they had heard about Jesus Christ before, they nodded. One of the men pointed to the missionary's deserted hut, with the words: "He lived over there!" The missionary's selfless sacrifice and prayers for the people of the village sowed the seed which later on led to them accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

What is your attitude towards the people around you? Do you inspire them to want to learn more about your Saviour? And do you daily pray that the Holy Spirit would open their hearts and minds to accept the truth? This is the secret to living happy, even if you are the only believer in your environment.

WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO PERSUADE AN UNBELIEVER TO BELIEVE?

In 2 Corinthians 4:4 we read: “The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” We must pray that the Holy Spirit removes the veil over unbelievers' hearts and minds so they would recognize the truth of Jesus Christ.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF WE ARE MARRIED TO AN UNBELIEVER OR BACKSLIDER?

In 2 Corinthians 6:14 we are warned not to marry an unbeliever – so we would not be unequally yoked. However, if you are married and your spouse walks away from God or you come to salvation and your spouse is still an unbeliever, we read in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 that we should not immediately look for ways to leave the marriage. Instead, we should follow the principle found in 1 Peter 3:1-2: “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”

Let us therefore stop judging unbelievers and rather focus on God’s ability and desire to save an unbelieving soul. He can change your unbelieving spouse, colleagues and/or children’s lives. All we need to do, is to keep on praying and ask the Holy Spirit to send the right people across their paths and strengthen us to always act in love towards the people around us. Do this and you might just be astounded when He changes the person with the hardest heart to someone sold out to Him. God bless.

Father God, thank you for hearing every prayer I pray. I bring (name of unbeliever) to you today. Please touch him/her through your Holy Spirit and open their eyes to the truth. And lead me to walk in love so they will be inspired to know You more intimately. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.