There is sin. But then there’s GOD.
This past weekend I had the immense blessing of participating in the Disciple-Now weekend at my church, Park Cities Baptist. Fellowship with a body of believers who are all seeking Jesus- that is my kind of weekend.
The Holy Spirit revealed a lot of things to me this weekend. But the one thing that really hit home was something that is the hardest to deal with- for me, at least.
After D-Now, going back into the normality of life and to the wayward world is super tough. Going from Christ-centered unity and fellowship into daily life and daily worries is a hard transition. A culture shock, really.
Though this weekend was amazing and a time of huge growth, we have to remember that growth in the Lord is also a way of equipping ourselves for trials ahead. We aren’t called to live a life of comfort, putting God in his place. He is the one that puts us in our place. I have recently been in situations where sin was so evident that it physically wearied my body. But I know that God put me in those situations for a reason. The world hurts. The world fills voids with things ephemeral, not eternal. And we, as disciples of Christ and His followers, are to put ourselves out of our comfort zone. The world around us hurts, and we are called to heal them by sharing God’s love.
I have failed in doing so. This weekend really made me realize how little an effort I make to let my peers understand the saving grace of Christ. But tomorrow is a new day, and Jesus renews my heart daily and strengthens me more every time I meet with Him. So my prayer for both myself and others is that we learn to meet Jesus in every moment, never afraid or ashamed of faith. Also, it is important to remember that Satan has a hold on the world- but he can never defeat God. There is nowhere else that I want to be but in the arms of Jesus. No one and no thing can fill my soul as He does.
Sin is so thick, and it is everywhere. It is not our purpose to hide from it, but to be a source of light to others to whom it consumes. I have so much hope in the Holy Spirit and how He moves in us and around us. I can’t save anyone. That is God’s job. But it’s our life’s purpose as His followers and as a Church to live out the commission that is to “make disciples of all nations” (Acts 1:8).
I love people. I love God. So let’s do this thing and meet Jesus in every moment while loving those who are hurting around us, and rejoicing in the moments of transformation.
“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’” John 6:66-69
