God Does Not Stay Silent: An Advent Prayer for Our Muslim Friends
As another year draws to a close, the days may be feeling a little hectic, packed with holiday plans, last-minute attempts at old resolutions, and the latest round of coughs and sniffles to dodge. But with the Advent season upon us, December offers us another option: an opportunity to push “pause” on the hustle and embrace a quiet anticipation as we reflect on the coming of Christ.
The Jews living in the days of Jesus’ birth were no strangers to anticipation. After the prophet Malachi brought God’s word to his people, there was a 400-year stretch with no new messages from the Lord. Throughout their history, God had promised to send a Messiah, a Savior to set things right in a broken world. For a nation living under Roman rule with no liberation in sight, how dark that time of silence must have felt!
At the right time, however, the Messiah made his appearance in a way no one saw coming: as Emmanuel, God with Us. More than just a human servant, even more than just a descendant of David to carry on the royal line, God himself stepped into history. The first chapter of John’s gospel tells us that the Word–who has been one with God since the beginning–”became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). After years of waiting, “the people who walked in darkness” saw a great light, just as Isaiah had prophesied they would (Isaiah 9:2).
For followers of Jesus, Advent is equally a season of anticipation. We celebrate the arrival of a light we've already received, but we also acknowledge that we’re still waiting. The reality is that this world still groans under a burden of darkness that won't be totally lifted until Jesus our Messiah returns. As we wait, we rejoice in our hope–and we remember those who have yet to experience it.
Sadly, nearly two billion Muslims around the globe are still walking in darkness with no freedom in sight. They don’t know that a Messiah has come for them, and unlike those Jews waiting in 400 years of silence, they don’t even know to look for one. Their eyes have been blinded by the god of this world, keeping them from the hope of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The book of Romans tells us that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved but raises a challenging question: “How can they believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14). Here at Crescent Project, our heart’s desire is to see the day that every Muslim has heard of the Messiah who has come to bring them out of darkness into light. We want to let them know that they can have a personal relationship with a loving God, one who chose to dwell among us–as the New Living Translation puts it, “made his home among us.”
This Advent season, let’s pray together for a people who still walks in darkness to see a great light. As we take time to pause and remember the birth of Emmanuel, God with Us, let’s pray for open doors to let our Muslim friends and neighbors know that God does not stay silent. The Messiah has come–not only for the Jews, not only for those of us who already follow him, but for anyone who calls on the name of Jesus.