An Ancient Work

Each month, the mission organization that is sending me to Tokyo this summer sends out something a Monthly Challenge, or a "MoChal" as they call it. January's MoChal is about accepting that, as a missionary, I am not "starting" the work of God in any person's life (either here or in Tokyo); I am joining into an ancient work that God started long before I even arrived. The second half of the MoChal is reflecting on the ancient work God put into place to lead me to Himself.

The verses they give include the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40), and the story of Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:1-11:18). When I read these chapters, I was struck by the thought of how crucial it is to follow God's directions as quickly and thoroughly as possible. What if Peter hadn't accepted the vision's message, and insisted that all Gentiles were unclean? What if he hadn't gone to Cornelius' house? Cornelius and his family (who sound like they were all devout, practicing believers) might have never heard the Good News, and the Jews who protested Peter going inside Cornelius' house might have never had their hearts softened to sharing the gospel with Gentiles. All that could have happened (or could have not happened) if Peter had chosen to disobey.

God gave me an insight recently, and it was this:

When you talk with someone about Christ, you have no idea what your role in their life is going to be. You could be the one who plants the seed (tells them the basics), or the one who waters it (explains the details and answers their questions), or the one who harvests the plant (actually praying with them), or the one who processes the plant (guiding them as they begin their walk with Jesus). You really don't know where God is sending you in, but you must be content with the role you have been called to play.

So many Christians seem go straight for the "harvest" part, and in doing so they act in a way that seems unloving and insensitive to the person they are speaking to. It is far less destructive and far more constructive to take the time to listen to what a person is saying and asking about Jesus, and to try to figure out what your role in that person's life will be at that moment. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, and accept His direction and His words. Do not hinder the ancient work God began in that person by acting like you know exactly what needs to be said. Humble yourself and accept your role in the work He started in that person a long time ago, and be confident that He will continue that work even after you're gone.

As for the second half of the MoChal, I don't know how thoroughly I can do that right now (I'm a little pressed for time), so it might need to wait for another time, when I can lay out the details and marvel at the awesome journey that has led me to the point I'm currently at. I can already tell it's going to impress me :).

Starbucks Makes Me See Red, and Jesus Gives an Insight

Something you might find interesting about me: I don't drink coffee.

So it was interesting when the largest purveyor of coffee-products in the galaxy actually served something that caught my attention, and even threw in a spiritual experience, to boot.

That last paragraph made me sound like I tried Starbucks-brand peyote, or something....

But I digress. Starbucks teamed up with RED's efforts to end HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis, they coordinated people from all 156 countries to sing The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" at the exact same time, and recorded the event. (See it here: http://www.starbucksloveproject.com/#/main/)

As I watched so many people singing the same song, but with different instruments, accents, settings, and dress, I was struck by this sense of love and pride. How amazing that we're all so similar, but so wonderfully different!

Then I realized it wasn't just my feelings I was experiencing--it felt like God was placing my hand on His chest, and letting me feel His heartbeat for the world. It was His sense of pride and adoration I was feeling, not just my own. It was like He was saying, "You're getting to see what I see every time I look down onto this marvelous creation. I love these people, and I want to be reconnected with them."

The feelings of pride and adoration were then replaced with this heartsick feeling--the kind you feel when you're away from someone whom you love, and craving to be back with them. It was sweet to feel His genuine love for His motley, fallen creation, even though we're so far from what He originally designed us to be.

After watching this video, I'm reminded of Acts 1:8, which says:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (ESV Study Bible)

All this world needs is His love, and He's ready to give it. Are you (and I) ready to go?