Just today we set out to do our usual ministry. This month my team has been working with a project called 9000 souls and our mission is to reach the souls of Romania with the love of Christ.
Most days we set out for about 3 hours and just walking around talking to people about God.
Every day differs because people are so different. How special is each Child of God! Because of this our encounters are all so unique.
HOWEVER.
Today stands out for a different reason all together.
As we were walking along today we passed the Police Station. As we were passing my translator and beautiful friend Anna (Who I would like to add is extremely gutsy- I look up to her so much) said, “Would you like to talk with these men?”
My human nature shouted, “to intimidating.”
Yet Christ in me shouted all the more, “They need to know!!!”
So I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster, “Oh yea of course!”
And just like that I found myself sharing my testimony to 6 policeman.
They were all in uniform, arms crossed, with hesitant glances as I dove into my story. While I was sharing I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me “Don’t hold back.”
I have learned through a lot of giving into fear that we ought not to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit. So I dove deep and told them about all the not so pretty things. I got vulnerable.
And at the end wrapped it up by boasting in my Lord & His love that has transformed my life. About the price He has paid for me and for all of us. I expressed that life changes when you know you are loved by the God of all the universe
After we talked for maybe an hour about things like our need to be loved, our human desire to numb pain with substances. Ect.
They responded with respect and touched hearts.
After our conversation came to a close they invited me and my translator to ride around in the police car with them. They wanted us to see what they see everyday. As we rode around they told us about the things they see in the villages where the gypsies live. They expressed the sorrow they feel for seeing this brokenness and also the duty they feel to keep the area safe.
Then came the real kicker. I absent mindedly mentioned to them, “Oh yea sometimes I run in this area.”
They responded saying it was terribly unsafe and I should not run there anymore. I told them okay I will try not to in the future. Our ride continued and eventually they dropped us off at our Church. We got to pray for them and make plans to maybe see each other again.
After they left and I was walking home I had time to think about the encounter and something dawned on me.
I am a wimp.
In all seriousness. I have been reading Pauls writing lately. What a gutsy guy!!! I mean come on.
He said this…..
” I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one, Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. “
-2 Corinthians 11:16-33
look what that guy went through for the sake of spreading the gospel!!
And I am afraid of talking to a few policemen?
And what about the gypsy people who are declared so “dangerous”?
Everyone of us has been created by God, Formed in our Mothers womb.
If we will not tell the “dangerous,” then who will?
It dawned on me today- people can tell how much you believe in something by how much you are willing to risk for it.
To live is Christ, to die is gain
What are we willing to risk?
I don’t want to be a wimp. I want to live as if my life is no longer my own.
Because of the love of Christ we have signed up to die. Die to self.
Heck…. To die for Him.
He died so that we would know the Fathers love.
Are we willing to go to the extent of death so that others would know this radical life changing love also?
In the end we have so much to gain by living for Christ, but it is by dying for Christ that we gain the greatest thing of all-
Eternity with Him
