What’s a passage of Scripture that really impacted you?

Maybe it was a meaningful parable, an inspiring Old Testament story or a Scripture that comforted you when you needed it. God promises us that His Word will impact those who encounter it and accomplish His will: “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11, NLT).

Around the world, people are experiencing the kind of transformation that only happens when they encounter Jesus through Scripture in a language that touches their hearts. Today God is on the move to make Himself known to every person, in every language through His Word. And when He does, their lives change in incredible ways!

When Scripture is being translated, it’s tested in communities. Those first words people hear, see in sign language or read are often so relatable that they’re deeply moved. In fact, it can be a life-changing experience. Meet a few people from an array of countries, and discover the Bible verses that changed them when they encountered them in their language.

Luke 7:11: Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

Although the majority of the Nyika in Tanzania identify as Christian, they don’t have God’s Word in a language they clearly understand, so most church services are taught in Swahili and use Swahili Scripture. This affects the whole congregation’s grasp of the biblical message — but it especially impacts women and young children who almost exclusively speak Nyika.

When the Nyika translation team began working on the Gospel of Luke, the community was excited, and their excitement only grew when portions of the Bible were tested in villages and churches.

Because the Nyika people prefer oral communication over written communication, the translated passages were produced in an audio format. When people gathered around to listen to Luke 7:11 — the passage where Jesus raises a widow’s dead son to life — read aloud, a pastor noticed the depth of the group’s emotions. The people felt the widow’s sadness and viewed her as someone from their community. Many had heard this biblical account before but had never been this moved. Praise God that He is reaching people just like the Nyika through His Word.

Think about …

What passage of Scripture has moved you, emotionally? And can you imagine what it would feel like to hear it aloud for the first time in your own language?

Pray …

That more people who use oral communication will experience God’s love and compassion for them when they hear His Word in their language.

James 3:3-5: Controlling Our Words

Colombian Sign Language is the official sign language for Deaf people in Colombia, and more than 554,000 people use it. A sign language translation team there is eager for Deaf Colombians to be able to access important biblical truths in a format they clearly understand.

God is already using His translated Word in Colombian Sign Language to transform Deaf Colombians like Edward.

Edward strives to reflect Christlikeness in his behavior, and the significance of keeping a tight rein on his words dawned on him while he was watching a video of James 3:3-5 in Colombian Sign Language: “We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire” (NLT).

“Watching this reminded me [of the importance of] controlling what I say, just like a horse harness or a boat with a fin keel,” Edward noted. “It is so important to avoid offending people or signing anything in a bad way.”

Edward appreciated this biblical admonition. “I’m thankful for the reminder and how the Lord has changed my life.”

Think about …

What’s a Scripture verse or story that convicted you? What would it be like to learn about God’s truth and instructions for the first time in your language?

Pray …

For the ongoing sign language Bible translation work that is happening around the world so Deaf men, women and children can know Jesus through Scripture.

John 1:1: The Word Became Flesh

As several Ndokwa people walked down the streets of their community in Nigeria, they heard an unfamiliar sound.

A man was reading aloud from John 1:1. The voice captured their attention. They recognized his words as Scripture, but something was different. Normally they heard the Bible read in another language that’s spoken in the region. But this man was reading in Ndokwa, their own language.

Curious, the people stopped to find out what was happening. An Ndokwa Bible translator was reading a draft of the Gospel of John to a group of people and asked for feedback. He wanted to ensure the meaning of the text was understood clearly by Ndokwa speakers. As he read, the Scripture attracted people nearby who joined the discussion.

Some children who were listening began to ask the translator questions about what he was reading. Meanwhile the adults were delighted to discover that God’s Word was being translated into their language. “When will it be finished?” they asked.

Others also responded with joy. On a different occasion, a young woman’s eyes lit up as she listened to a portion of the Gospel of Luke in her language. It seemed as if the Bible was coming home to her heart.

“Is this in the Bible?” she asked. The Ndokwa translator who was reading Scripture to the woman and her daughter nodded.

The woman couldn’t remember hearing the story before. Although she was familiar with Scripture, this was the first time she heard it in her language. After listening to the portions of God’s Word in Ndokwa, both mother and daughter decided to follow Christ!

Praise God that the Ndokwa New Testament is currently being printed! As God’s Word is made available in Ndokwa, pray that many people — just like this woman and her daughter — will also discover the joy of the Lord for the first time. Praise God for His faithfulness to His people!

Think about …

Is there someone in your life that you’re praying will encounter God through His Word? How can you share the joy of Scripture with them?

Pray …

That more Ndokwa people will continue to be amazed at God’s immense love for them when they encounter the printed New Testament in their language.

Romans 13:12: Preparing for Jesus’ Return

Clever fought back tears.

He sat alongside his Sihuas Quechua translation colleagues, considering what he’d just read in Romans. For Clever and many others in the room, this was the first time they’d ever encountered this book of the Bible. The moment felt sacred.

Clever reflected particularly on Romans 13:12 (NLT): “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.”

He felt the urgency of turning from sin and preparing for Jesus’ return. He could barely get the words out as he shared with the others: “This message burns like fire in my soul.”

Then another translator, Diomi, spoke up. He noted his growing admiration for the Apostle Paul, who wrote Romans and cared for many budding churches.

“We are doing this too,” Diomi said. “As a father, I am teaching my children. When we are humble before God and good followers of Jesus, this is good for us and it is good in God’s eyes. Who would I be, what would I be like, if I had not been involved in this translation?”

These reflections encouraged the team members, who are excited to see how the Lord continues to work in the hearts of the Sihuas Quechua translators. Praise God for the transforming power of His Word!

Think about …

Is there a Scripture that “burns like fire” in your own soul? What’s a way you can share that Scripture with someone else this week?

Pray …

That God’s Word would continue to impact peoples’ hearts and lives just like it did for Clever and Diomi.

Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41: Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death

Leonard Bolioki understands just how powerful translated Scripture is. During a Good Friday service at his church in Cameroon, he began to read the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. In previous years, the congregation had heard the story in French. But this year was the first time it was being read in Leonard’s own language, Yambetta.

As he read the story, the congregation was stilled by the words. Then a few of the older women began to weep. After the service, they approached Leonard and demanded to know where he found the story.

“We have never heard anything like it before!” they said. “We didn’t know there was someone who loved us so much that He was willing to suffer and die like that — to be crucified on a cross to save us!”

Leonard showed them the story in his French New Testament and told them it was the story the congregation heard every year during Holy Week. But the women insisted that they had never heard it before.

That’s what truly motivated Leonard to translate the Scriptures into Yambetta. He wanted the Bible to be available in a language they truly understood.

Think about …

There are Scripture passages that many people know — like the story of Jesus’ birth, His death and resurrection that come up often around Christmas and Easter, respectively. Now imagine that you experienced those stories for the first time in your language. What emotions would bubble up within you?

Pray …

That everyone will be able to understand Jesus’ entire story — from birth and life to death and resurrection — in their language so they can believe in Him.

Which Scripture passages have changed your heart and mind? Think about ways you can share them with others around the world today!

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