One of my best friend's on the race is named Krystle and one of my favorite things about her is her analogies. There are times that she'll make 4 to 5 analogies just to make one point. She once compared me to a goldfish in order to encourage me that I am versatile and can fit into different types of friend groups. If you don't know her you might get a little confused at times but for me, it's always Krystle clear.
This week during ministry we were doing door to door evangelism. We came upon a group of men on the side of the road and our translator stopped to talk with them. After a few minutes she turned to us and explained that the men knew who Jesus was but didn't follow him. One man in particular stepped forward and said that he talks to the Lord in the mornings or sometimes before he goes to bed and whenever he has a problem. I didn't know what to say. In my mind, that's how countless “Christians” operate. I have a hard time instructing and admonishing people in America so I figured Rwanda wasn't going to be any easier. I didn't know what to say but luckily, Krystle did.
She started off by asking the man if he was married or if he had a girlfriend. He said no both times so she asked him if he wanted a relationship and he said yes. She then proceeded to explain to Him what a successful relationship takes. She explained that you can't just talk to your girlfriend once in the morning or once at night. You can't just call her when you have a problem. No woman be interested in a relationship like that- and God isn't either. She showed him that when God says he wants a relationship with us He means it.
God wants it all. He wants us encourage and affirm Him in the areas He excels (which are pretty much endless). He wants us to talk to him throughout the day, call on Him when something exciting or funny happens. He wants us when we wake up and before we go to sleep but He wants us all the moments in between as well. He's wants to comfort us when we're hurt and strengthen us when we're weak. He wants to celebrate with us in our success and dance with us when we're joyful. He wants to rest with us when we're tired and lead us when we're lost. He wants to right us when we're wrong and instruct us in the ways that we should go. He wants to know us and He wants us to know Him- we can't follow someone we don't know. If your relationship with God doesn't look like this then something needs to change.
I'm learning that life is an endless lesson. The Lord used Krystle to teach a man on the side of the road in Rwanda and He is constantly using her to teach me. Sometimes learning is hard and sometimes the Lord puts people in your life to make learning fun and easy. If you're reading this, I hope God is teaching you something too.
