Raymond Lull

Friday, September 27, 2019

He lived A.D. 1232-1316. He was part of the Spanish nobility. In his youth, he lived a life of immorality and dissipation. He boasted that no woman could resist his advances. Finally, his pious wife took the children and left him. He followed her, and during that pursuit, he saw a vision of Jesus. He abandoned his sins and started following the crucified Savior.

Later, he decided to launch an appeal to Muslims to come to Christ through love, using dialogue and reasoning. His strategy was to prepare men of God in large numbers to be knowledgeable in Christian doctrine, fluent in Arabic, and skilled in Muslim culture and beliefs. For nine years he studied Islam, its religion, culture and traditions, and immersed himself in studying the Arabic language. Finally, he went to Tunisia to the famed Zaytuna Mosque. There he had serious discussions with the local leaders and offered them the message of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Although his witness for Christ caused him to be arrested and deported, he returned to North Africa two more times. On his last visit there, he was tortured and gave his life for the sake of his Savior.

He was the first intentional missionary to Muslims, and he carried out his task with commitment and sacrifice.

Prayer

Merciful and redeeming Lord, you are worthy of every sacrifice we make for your sake. Thank you for calling Raymond Lull to go to North Africa. You still call people today.

I pray that many of your children will take the message of the cross to Muslims as Lull did. Give them a passion for the lost. May they never stop hearing the cries of the Christless, hurting world. May their hearts beat with your love for those who do not know you. Fill their minds with the eternal consequence of Calvary. Help them as they study new languages, cultures and ways of life. May their motto be as that of Lull’s, “He who loves not lives not; he who lives by the Life cannot die.”^[1]

May they see miracles happen as lives are changed. Glory and honor and praise to you, our God. Amen.

Promise

Please sir, do you remember me? I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I asked him to give me this boy, and he has granted my request (1 Samuel 1:26-27, SAB).