October 25

Spiritual Warfare

The Difference Christ Makes

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”
Hosea 13:14 (NIV)

My friend, Sizakele (see-zuh-KAY-lay), asked if I would pray for her
sister-in-law, who was in the hospital. Mrs. Ndlovu (in-DLO-voo)
had been sick for several months with AIDS, transmitted to her by
her husband.

When I arrived at the hospital, the room was full with her family.
As I walked to her bedside, it was apparent that she was near death. I
learned that Mrs. Ndlovu was a Christian. I bent over her, stroked her
head and read Psalm 23. I told her that God was with her as she walked
through the valley of death. She could barely open her eyes, but the
tears streamed down her face. I prayed for her, kissed her on the forehead
and said my goodbyes. A few hours later, she died quietly. She was
at peace with Jesus.

It was only a week later that Sizakele also lost her sister to AIDS.
Before her death, the father insisted that his daughter did not have the
dreaded disease but a spell had been cast on her. He insisted that a sangoma
(san-GO-mah), a spiritual medium, could heal her. He carried
his daughter to a sangoma, where she died without knowing Jesus. He
had put his faith in tradition and ancestor worship to save his daughter,
instead of Jesus.

Sizakele saw the difference Christ made between her sister-in-law
and sister. Putting faith in tradition rather than the person of Jesus is a
barrier that must be broken in order to find true life.
—Cindy, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa

Lord, my heart shares Your grief that the majority of people who face death
today do so without personally knowing You as Lord and Savior. Father, I ask
that the masses who are infected with HIV will have the opportunity to hear
and respond to the gospel. Break the chains of the enemy in Southern Africa
and bring restoration as only Jesus can give. Amen.

Next day