As I walked back to the church in Obregon to prepare a message, I hardly knew what to prepare. My heart was heavy, feeling inadequate, wondering if I was even contributing anything, feeling disobedient to God for fearing instead of loving, fearing instead of being passionate. The daily torrent of rain began to fall and I screamed to God on the inside for over an hour while drenching myself in the rain, getting the only shower I would have for five days. I guess I prepared my heart far more than I prepared anything to say. A few hours later, I walked to the front of the church to preach a message about the transforming power of Christ in my own life, sharing how God has changed me from someone who couldn’t feel love to someone who finally could receive and give at least a taste of the love of Jesus with this community. A community that seemed to understand in their hearts more than I did what it means to allow the power of the love of Christ to transform nations and break down walls. The people of Obregon gave us everything they had and prepared feasts for us everyday with some of the best authentic Mexican food I’ve ever had! They invited us into their family, allowed us to shell beans with them, and play with their children in the mountains. We ate grilled plantains almost everyday, shared church with them almost every night, and enjoyed their smiles and hugs all day long. We washed dishes together, they washed our clothes, they let us rest when we needed rest. Yes, we shared truth with them, prayed for them, and loved them. But they loved us just as much in return!
During our final hours back in Palenque, Mexico after returning from Obregon, I shared with our main contact and friend who connected us with Pastor Carlos, about how I’d love to spend weeks back in the mountains. Eleazar replied, “Many villages need you to spend time with the people.” And it hit me. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. People all around me are screaming to be loved. People need to know the truth, need to be listened to, prayed for, fed, given a place to live. I’ve grown up in a society where we learn to be selfish. We don’t want our expectations to be changed. We have our ministry time where we’re open to sharing and loving people for a little while. And yet if my run must be interrupted, if someone on the side of the road is stranded, or if someone has a need that changes or delays my plans, I often make excuses.
We are ministers 24 hours a day! Every single one of us that knows Jesus has the opportunity, the joy to share His love, His life, His truth. When we reject our opportunities to be interrupted, we are denying others the love of Christ. Yet when we offer someone a place to stay for a night, offer someone food, choose to listen to someone whom everyone else is rejecting because they might be annoying yet are desperate to be heard, we are showing them Jesus.
Then the King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
–Matthew 25:37-46
