This is awesome... and not enough.

The Bible in 1500 languages…. a good start. Translating the Bible into heart languages is essential. Nothing can replace this arduous, rewarding, precious task. But words on a page are not enough.

Though God can and has used His Word independently at times, His plan is clearly through His the physical presence of people.

The body of Christ is the church. The fact that a people group has YouVersion and or some other translation of Scripture, does not change the reality that they may have no access to living believers, no visible gospel. The only physical witness they may have access to are the caricatures of extremists who call themselves Christians on the news.

We complete in our body what is lacking in Christ’s sacrifice…. not simply by sending a translation of the Bible because we don’t want to go, but by becoming the visible Gospel through our physical presence:

Colossians 1:24-29

²⁴ Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuouslycontend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.