Redemption So Powerful It’s Almost Offensive

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Romans 15:30 NIV

*Warning: today’s devotion shares an incredible testimony, but contains some graphic events.*

There were two sisters in Nepal, one older, one younger. In a tragic betrayal, their neighbor tricked the younger sister into going with him on a “trip.” Then, he sold her to sex traffickers in a different country for $30.

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. This man betrayed this little girl for $30.

Can you imagine this little girl? Alone. Scared. Abused. And then shipped off to another country to endure a life awful beyond comprehension.

Once they found out, the older sister was devastated and suffered a medical episode from the shock. Her father took her to a hospital for help. But because her family was part of the “untouchable” Dalit class (the lowest rung of their caste system), her doctor raped her.

Instead of getting help, she was viciously hurt.

When she told her dad, he was powerless. Because of their social status, if he said or did anything, his family would never be helped again. Both of his daughters were abused, and he couldn’t do anything.

My heart broke for those girls — and for their father.

After some time, though, this story takes a dramatic turn.

The older sister met Jesus. Our Jesus. The same Jesus we worship every day. And she began to heal. Because that’s what Jehovah-Rapha does. But the gospel is too powerful to stay contained in one heart.

She began to share Jesus with her family and village. Eventually, 180 of her family members came to know Jesus, too. People in their village and surrounding areas got saved. And through help from the ministry, Venture, her little sister was rescued from trafficking.

She was abused an estimated 20,000 times—but is on a path of healing, counseling, and education. And best, she met Jesus, as well.

Today, there is a thriving church in that village.

Hundreds have come to Christ and things are changing. But here’s the most radical part of the story.

The pastor of their church?

The neighbor who sold the younger sister into slavery 🤯

My heart had such mixed feelings when I heard this.

That didn’t feel like justice for a man who did such an unspeakable, even unforgivable, act. But that’s the gospel, my friends.

It transforms even tar-black tragedies into reconciliation on a level we can’t even comprehend.

As Paul wrote in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

How can we be ashamed of a power like this?

Of a kingdom that brings peace in impossible situations?

Of a God who sees, hears, and rescues?

It is also a reminder that no heart is too far.

My wife and I heard this testimony from a ministry we support. And the director who shared it explained doing the work of the Gospel doesn’t just mean traveling across the world. He said: “It’s not about distance, it’s about destination.”

We can serve right where we’re at.

In our neighborhoods. At work. In our state. In our country. And of course, the world.

As Paul asked the Roman church in today’s verse, we can also join missionaries in their “struggle” by praying. Because prayer knows no distance.

The gospel doesn’t discriminate. And everyone needs Jesus (us included).

I just couldn’t help but share that incredible testimony.

It’s helped me get over myself this week. And get into action do my tiny part to build a kingdom that is literally saving the world.