If we look in 1 Corinthians 12 we read about spiritual gifts. Now before I came on this trip if you would ask me about spiritual gifts, and I were to be honest with you, I would have thrown you a big and very unstable “I don’t know about that.” But from the time my squad and I hit Spain all the leadership has been talking about operating in spiritual gifts. Thinking this is kind of crazy, I just rolled with it. Not thinking to much about it.
That is until we hit North Africa. I got to see a healing. Yes, a few of my teammates and I met a man and prayed for his bad leg. Then we saw him walk straight as an arrow after! I have heard people speak in tongues and seen giftings of wisdom! I have also heard lots of prophecy, I have gotten a few of those myself.
One I got in-particular was just a single word: protect, with the definition of “aim to preserve”.
Now before I get into this let me explain something, something that stems back to my boyhood. Superheroes, what boy does not love superheroes! I wanted to be one when I grew up, what little kid didn’t? This desire to save the day followed me all the way from boyhood through adolescence and even to adulthood. Over the years it got me into a lot of trouble, everything from girls to defying authority figures, turning me into a flat out rebel sometimes.
So, when someone started talking about spiritual gifts my first thought went right to the obvious: super powers. Now I am not saying I have super powers now, but I am saying that God has the ability to work through me if he so desires.
Now back to this word I got: Protect. I heard this and my spidey senses started going off! The desire to save the world was triggered again! Keeping eyes and ears open, how and in what fashion am I to protect?
My first thought went right to the physical. Being in some tight market places in North Africa, naturally my female squad mates need some protection. I am sure to keep an eye on them as we weave in and out of shops in off time.
My second thought went to the emotional. As things on our team have not been smooth as silk, I have been trying my best to give honest feedback and show love when I can.
My third and final thought went to the spiritual side of things. Fighting in prayer, something I am not good at, and frankly need some help with. That is where you come in, how can you pray for me and my team? Pray that me and my team see through God’s eye when we look at one another, with love and understanding. Pray that we as a team find unity and joy in all circumstances. And finally pray against any spirit of negativity that might disrupt the workings of our team.
One final disclaimer: I am no superhero. I don’t fly around saving orphans and widows, nor can I heal people. I am no super hero at least not in that sense, but everyone can be a superhero with the way that they love. Have a superhero’s love, just like the greatest superhero if all, Jesus Christ.
-Luke
