I have written about how it looks and feels going downtown Bangkok to talk to the girls, but now I need to write about what God is doing in my heart. The easiest way to say it is that I am falling in love all over again with Jesus. In a place and a ministry that would seem to be so hard and discouraging, I have never been more sure of who my Lord is and how firm His character stands.
We took a day and went to the Buddhist temples last week. I was prepared for a heaviness to follow me throughout the day and to be praying constantly. To be honest, it wasn’t like that at all. Yes, I prayed and even sang out loud a bit, but I wasn’t weighed down by it all. The temples are actually beautiful to see. There is darkness there, but it comes from a sense of a whole country of people being completely unaware of the truth. They have not turned their backs on Jesus, snubbing the whole idea of grace…they just haven’t heard yet. They are born into Buddhism, with no chance to even make a choice one way or the other. I toured around that day at the temples in awe at the level of devotion they have. The ornate details of the temples and the sense of reverence they understand and live by is amazing. What could their adoration for Jesus look like?
I left with a huge sense of hope for these people. I don’t look down on or pity them, I
just imagine what they could be for the Lord. The same goes for the girls at the bars. I don’t go into the bars at night as some American girl who has all the answers and is there to show them the error of their ways. That’s not my job. The Lord is the one who gently brings conviction and offers the way out. I just go to show them love in a way they maybe haven’t known before.
So, this leads me to my point and the title of my blog. The other night I had this epiphany walking through the bars: Jesus is like Jack Bauer, only a million times better! You’ll have to forgive me if you aren’t a “24” watcher, but if you are, you might enjoy this! Jack Bauer is this unbelievable agent who works for the Counter-Terrorist Unit on the show. Basically, he saves the world in almost every episode, all the while making it look easy. You don’t have to even think about whether or not you can trust Jack…your life depends on it, period. I have to admit, I have a little crush on him (and by little, I mean huge!). As we walked around the other night, I had to laugh when I put Jesus in that role. Jesus is so much more amazing and goes on recon missions to save these girls, almost undercover! He uses us as His workers to go in under the cover of night and we let Him do what He does best…steal back from the enemy what has been stolen and get out of there before the enemy ever realizes what has happened.
I came on this trip with so many questions and reasons I thought I was justified in doubting the Lord. For some reason, being here in Thailand and seeing these girls in their own soul prisons, I have nothing but joy because I know the one who has come to free them! There are no thoughts in my mind like, “Maybe He can’t help this one”, or “This situation is too hard to bring light into”. It’s laughable now for me to not just assume that He’ll knock down the doors for the prisoners and lead them out into freedom. That’s what He does, it’s who He is. How can you not fall in love with that?!? He is the perfect superhero, the best leading man, the most amazing Rescuer…everything a girl looks for! And I’ve found Him, and He loves me unconditionally…I have definitely hit the jackpot! I have found the man of my dreams…Jesus. I am fully convinced of His capabilities and refuse to be like the annoying people on the show “24” who doubt Jack and only get themselves into more trouble. I just want to sit back with a look of pure adoration on my face at what the Lord does this month and say “Yup, that’s my Jesus! Just look at what He can do!”.
