CURRENT THEME: New hope for 2013 (Share your feedback with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or share your testimony at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

DAY 32: NEW HOPE ... IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

In Egypt, it is against the law for Christians to bear witness of their faith. Despite these restrictions, God still works in powerful ways to draw people to him. One of my colleagues recently returned from Egypt, where they hosted a prayer conference for the underground church. He shared this powerful testimony of a woman he met there by the name of Maggie:

Maggie’s heart beat fast and her palms were sweaty as she sat on the back seat of the taxi. “Talk to the driver about me,” she heard the Holy Spirit’s whisper. She wanted to, but every time she looked at the man's traditional outfit and long beard demonstrating his loyalty to his religion, her heart sank. What if he tells the government’s officials and she get prosecuted? She has a family at home to think of.

When the driver stopped in front of Maggie’s work, it felt like she was going to faint. Her heart raced and her throat was dry. “Talk to the man about Me. Tell him that I love him ...” she heard the whisper again, as she got out of the vehicle. She knew she had to be obedient. As she handed over the money to the taxi driver, she took her chance with this simple sentence: “Here is the money. And by the way, Jesus loves you tremendously!” She turned around to leave and when she heard the door of the taxi opening, she almost started running. “Wait! Please wait!” the taxi driver called out to her with an urgency in his voice. “I must talk to you. Just give me 5 minutes of your time!”

Maggie turned back to the taxi in fear. What does this man want from her? When she got to the taxi, she was surprised to see the urgency in the man's eyes. She hesitantly climbed back into the taxi where the driver started sharing his story with her. Over the past couple of months, he had four dreams in which Jesus appeared to him. Every time He told the man to follow him. The man however was too afraid as he belonged to another faith group. The night before they met, Jesus again appeared to him with the words: "It seems like you do not want to follow Me. Tomorrow a woman will speak to you in your taxi and she will tell you something about Me. You will then know that I am real." There in the taxi, alongside the busy road in Egypt, because of her obedience, Maggie had the privilege to lead the Egyptian to Jesus Christ.

God created all people to stand in a relationship with Him. Sometimes we just need to be a link in His chain to share the good news of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:6,7,9, Paul writes: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. . .  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

God is a creative God and He uses different ways to reveal Himself to us. Are you obedient and available to act as his instrument when He needs you? In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel emphasized the importance of obedience to God: “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Can you imagine what applause in heaven there was when Maggie finally got back into the taxi? For a long time she and her church members prayed for lost souls in their country. This time she was the last link in God’s chain to ensure the final destination of one once lost soul be changed forever. Will you do the same today? God bless.

Father God, thank you for being in control of my life. Help me to be obedient when You need me to be an instrument in the greater plan. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a radio DJ, 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. Visit website: www.benescke.co.za for more information.