It has been
really easy to do ministry since I have been here in El Salvador. Which made me
contemplate why it was so tough in the states. Why
is it easy here?
As I
contemplated this I started thinking about all Christians in America and how we
approach ministry.
I started
to see that most of my life I have been living as a “Convenient
Christian.”
I would–
1)
Schedule ministry
2)
Make a checklist of when to witness, work, and go to church
3)
Work witnessing comfortably into my busy schedule
I
proclaimed I loved God and was living for Him, but only talked about Him when it
fit my schedule or when I felt comfortable.
I would set
an hour aside on Saturday as my “homeless ministry, witnessing time.” And if I somehow got too busy and
missed it, I felt no guilt. I would “clock in” to ministry, put in
my time and clock out. I would
continue with my busy schedule.
Praising God on Sundays and making sure I was good the rest of the week.
And most of
the time we as Christians feel no guilt in that. We feel great about ourselves as long as our relationship
with God is good. As long as we
go to church, read our bibles, pray every day, and don’t do anything bad-we are
okay. We are a “strong” Christian.
I wonder how I could feel so strong
in Christ, yet completely miss His heart?
How could I go
through every day and not be aware of those that were lost around me?
How could I let so
many opportunities to build His Kingdom go to waste?
How can we recite,
“For God so loved the world” yet not tell the world of His love for them?
How can we make
excuses about our busy schedule or not feeling comfortable to share His news,
when He went to the cross for us to proclaim that truth?
We
should ask ourselves, what did Jesus mean when He said,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
If we are supposed
to be carrying the cross daily, carrying the gospel of what the cross actually
means, what would that look like?
What would the cross
upon our shoulders look like?
Would it look like
unfathomable love for the lost?
Would we be broken for
the lost?
Would we feel God’s
burden to save the lost?
Would we feel God’s
desire for reconciliation?
Would we see the
opportunities to heal the broken, restore lives, speak truth, and call upon
greatness in others?
Would we finally
see the Kingdom begin to take place in our lives?
Would we actually
see His will being done on earth as it is in heaven?
Here are some photos from last month:
