Day 6 of 30
By Simon from Mahabba's Hub
Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!
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Daily verse
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
Thought for the day
Another cuppa
We often hear about the importance of tea in Muslim contexts. One that struck me was warfare.
I remember news reports about British Army officers sitting down for tea with tribal elders in Afghanistan before discussing local matters and issues.
The tea often comes with mint in it; sometimes it's coffee, highly spiced with cardamon, depending on which region you are in.
Among Muslims in the UK, the tea might be less important, but the act of hospitality certainly isn't.
While Brits might be worried to pop in unannounced to a friend or neighbour, this is not a concern to Muslims.
The honour and privilege lies with the host; you bestow a blessing on your guest by visiting them, as you've set aside space and time to be with them.
This is a way that we can all show the love of Jesus Christ to Muslims.
Perhaps you need to get into the habit of dropping round to your Muslim neighbours more often, and take a little sweet something too.
Clearing out your diary and being less busy might help too!
By sharing time, homes and tea with Muslims you are able to build relationships and may even be invited to share your faith in the fullness of time.
All that because of a cup of tea - not bad!
Prayer for the day
Father God, thank you that we can learn a lot about Jesus’ command to show hospitality through our Muslim friends and neighbours. Help us to take that command seriously and as we do so, bless our relationships with Muslims that they might see Jesus in our heart, words and actions.
Daily action
Look at your diary, as suggest above, and think about how you can build space in your week to visit Muslim friends and neighbours. It might be on a Sunday afternoon or perhaps you’ve got some space mid-week. If you need more structure, are there local places or events where you can start to build relationships? Ask yourself what is getting in the way of you finding a little time for a cup of tea?
Your turn
Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!
Resources
Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?
There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:
Pray Together as a Congregation
Small Group Session
Night of Power Prayer Meeting
Prayer Walk Guide
What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.