It’s exciting to watch God work through prayer!  In this venture of church planting there are so many mountains and valleys, yet God is at work in all of them.  As I have walked the square, the neighborhood, and spent time getting to know my mission field, God has taught me that He is in control.  As I meet people and pray that God would be doing a work in their lives I am reminded that I cannot change hearts, that is the work of the Lord.

I met a guy the other day who told me a bit about his desire to reach the people in his community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was encouraged as I listened to his desire to love his neighbors and do works of service for his community.  The conversation took an uncomfortable turn when this believer told me the purpose of serving.  “We want to come into our neighborhood under the guise of service and love, and then we will bash the people over the head with the Gospel.”  I know my brother ultimately wants people to know Jesus but I am afraid that bashing people over the head with the Gospel may not be the right motive for loving our neighbor.

It reminds me of a game I used to play at the local skating rink in middle school.  Some of you may remember the game where the gophers would pop there heads up and you would have to bash them with a club before they went back underground.  I was never very good at this game even then…

We love people because Jesus first loved us. We love people regardless of whether they will ever trust in Jesus.  Our motive in loving others is to be more like Jesus.  Yes, I pray that others would come to know Jesus and I share my faith when I find opportunities to do so.  But thankfully I don’t have to bash anyone on the head with the Gospel, I just live my faith and share my faith, then I don’t feel like I am in a war “us against them.”

“The Good News is not just good- it pasionate, compelling, and inviting”