Yes.
Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
(This was the first draft of my blog and it really is that simple, even if we don’t always think so.)
(You have no context for what the ‘one’ is- I know that… just let me have my fun)
Time and time again in the Bible we see that God chases after the ‘one’. Whether the one is a lost coin, a lost sheep, or a prodigal son. He never counts us as lost and we are never not worth chasing after in His eyes. And when we are found, we are always welcomed back home with celebration.
We don’t have to do anything or achieve anything to be worth something because it’s already a part of who we are and how God made us. All human life has value because we are created in God’s image, the Imago Dei. We as individuals are precious to God and by extension we should be precious to each other.
That’s how God views us, His people, but do we really believe that? And if we believe it, how do we live that out? Are we putting our beliefs into action?
I remember once at church during a missions meeting a woman got up and talked about a mission trip that she had just returned home from. She said something that has always stuck with me since then: “What if God calls us to get up and go halfway across the world just to pray?”
Would we be willing to go? Is it even worth it to spend all that money and time? It’s not practical. We can pray anywhere, why do we have to GO and pray?
Let me remind us all: God’s economy is not our economy.
Where we subtract, He multiplies. Where we stop, He keeps going. Where our resources are limited, His are infinite. He doesn’t do things halfway or settle for anything less than His perfect plan. He is after our hearts. Always. He wants every part of us, He wants us to jump into His plan and trust- He wants our yes. And He doesn’t just want us to go so that the prodigal son can be saved from his sinful ways and come home, He wants us to go so that He can win back our heart, which are too often like that of the older brother, too.
Why am I talking about this?
What if God sent me on an 11-month trip around the world just to talk to one person. What if the only lasting thing I do this year is tell one person about Jesus who is really ready to accept Him? (I fully believe that God is going to do SOOO much with my time this year- but also, God’s ways aren’t my ways.. so what if all of this really is for one person? Am I ok with that?) ((HINT: I am.))
Have I wasted a year of my life and all of the resources that it took for me to go to all these places and meet all these people?
I don’t think so and I don’t think God looks at it that way either.
I’ve been looking at the people around me: my teammates, the kids at the English camp, my taxi driver, the girls at church.
Who is God seeking? Who do I get the chance to talk to/pray for? Who is the one?
Through this whole process, God is also changing me, and getting after my heart too.
The truth is that God moves mountains for His people- all of His people. Time and time again He goes after His people in what seems like unconventional, crazy, and unpractical ways. He doesn’t do what is easiest, He does what is needed so that His glory is made known. Not just in Jacksonville, or even the USA, but all around the world.
We should treat everyone we meet like they are the one, because they are. We should be orienting our hearts to the heart of God and not that of the world. God’s heart is for His people and if you don’t believe that or know that already, I invite you to read any of the many accounts given in the Bible of Jesus going to the lost, the broken, and the forgotten and just loving them with a crazy, countercultural, unconventional love.
So yea guys,
One is enough.
One person is worth a year of my life if that’s God’s plan.
One person was worth it for Jesus to die on the Cross.
My Challenge to you: Start praying for the one that Jesus wants you to encounter. And if He is calling you to go: Go. And if He is calling you to serve: Serve. Don’t ask questions or second guess it, just go be His hands and feet and allow yourselves to be used by our great and powerful Jesus.
I started writing this blog when I was still back in Atlanta before my team and I flew out. This isn’t the blog I was planning on posting this week, but a few days ago, after coming back to my hostel after having an amazing adventure day in Budapest, I learned about several shootings that took place in Jacksonville, my home. I was, and continue to be, horrified, shocked, and incredibly saddened by such senseless violence. But I was also reminded of something: we live in a broken world and all of us are broken people. This is not an excuse that allows us to sit idly by and to continue to allow this to happen but it also heals no wounds to point fingers. The brokenness within all of us manifests itself in different ways and it is only restored through a relationship with Jesus. We all need Him, and as Christians it is our job to be His hands and feet to those who don’t yet know Him. Being hands and feet implies action. Yes, we are called to pray and that is a mighty weapon second to none but also God works, moves, and answers prayers in the world through us, the body. Do not let the idea that we need to pray keep us from moving into action, because God never intended for those things to be separate. Instead, pray AND act. Pray AND vote. Pray AND have hard conversations with your kids/neighbors/friends/family/coworkers. Let’s not sit back and blame culture, politicians, or others for events going on in the world today and forget that we, the church, can help shape and create a new culture with our words AND our actions. Jesus is holding all things together and pushing back darkness in the world even now. We are His body and we are called into that fight too. That’s going to look different for everyone, but everyone should be engaged in bringing light to this dark world if we are apart of the body of Christ.
Our city is hurting and grieving and it is in this time that we all need the hope and peace that comes from knowing Jesus the most. I pray, Church, that we not neglect the hurting. That before we point fingers or draw party lines, we mourn with those who mourn, no matter our differences.
There are mothers going to bed tonight without their children. There are children now without a parent.
It is not my heart to be political here and if I see any political comments on this post I am telling you now that I will lovingly delete them for the sake of peace and so that the heart of what is being said is not missed. I think that too much of our culture and opinions have been shaped and formed by focusing on where others are wrong instead of focusing on our commonalities as human beings who are seeking to create a system that serves and benefits us all. I don’t want to sound hypocritical, because those of you who know me well, know that I don’t shy away from sharing my political opinion, but please respect that this is not the right place.
Also I know that I haven’t talked about my ministry yet or even about Ukraine in general and for that I ask you to be patient because I’m working on so many cool things that I can’t wait to share with you! This is something that I needed to share now and I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read all of this.
Much love,
Morgan
As always, I invite you to make my journey, your journey. Here are three simple ways:
- The most important, PRAY.
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