September.08.2009

The alley was covered in plastic bags, beer cans, dog feces, and even remnants of a city rat undoubtedly left from a local cat.  I was on another prayer walk that was brought about through the frustration of another day in the life of a follower of Christ.  Not that I am frustrated in my efforts to follow Christ… no matter how often I mess it up I am always encouraged by the work of Christ.  No, on this particular day I was frustrated by my own efforts at creating a community of disciples who multiply.  As I walked along and asked God to show me what He would have me do I couldn’t help but long for every person I passed to know Jesus.  The plumber who was working outside his truck, the carpenter who was renovating a house, the young professionals walking their dogs who leave me little presents in unexpected places, and even the bar keeps who stand patiently by their doors waiting on the evening crowd to fill their bars.

It feels like I have had this conversation in my head at least a thousand times in the last year… If I remain faithful then God will work on their hearts… If I remain faithful then God will build His church.  And yet I return time and time again to a place where I want to change hearts and I want to build His church.

I desperately desire to be part of a community of people who are not only passionately in love with Jesus, but who desire others to be passionately in love with Jesus and are willing to step out in radical and unthinkable ways to see that the name of Jesus is proclaimed.  And while in some cases I find that beginning to happen, I question myself and find myself standing helpless before Jesus.  And so all I can do is love God well, love others well, and strive to be more like Jesus.  I model these three things out, I encourage others, and I seek ways to equip others to make disciples.  It’s not complicated though it can be difficult.

God, is faithful… He rewarded me today with a renewed encouragement.  I sense of excitement at what the Gospel can do and the need that exist on every street in my neighborhood and throughout Baltimore.   The next few months will be challenging indeed but then again I can think of nothing better than to face a challenge for the sake of Christ.  Pray for me servants, I have much to learn.

Cheers