In the ministry of John the baptist there is a point where he questions if Jesus was the one who was predicted to come in the scriptures of old. John had seen the spirit descend on Jesus, he heard the father say “This is my son with whom I am well pleased”, and yet he asks if this is one the one whom was to come or if he should look for someone else. Why does John ask this question? I believe he found himself in a place where his exceptions did not meet his present circumstances. John found himself in prison.
Do you ever relate to John? Do you ever feel like your experience with Jesus just isn't hitting the mark? I often have asked myself this question, I ask where are the miracles, where is the feeling that Jesus is right here, I find myself asking is this the christian life or is there something more to come? I question my experiences and walk with God because my expectations have not been met.
This journey thus far has not been what I expected. I expected the greatest struggles to come from opposition from the world, they have come through relationships on my team. I expected to be worn out from relentless ministry everyday and yet I find I have more time on my hands here than I often did at home. I expected to be able to share the gospel easily and clearly and yet in my limited spanish often all I can ask is “Do you believe in Jesus” and maybe share a verse from my bilingual Bible. I expected spirituality to flow naturally, yet I find myself in need for intentionality just to keep my eyes on Christ. Just like John my expectations of this trip do not meet my present circumstances.
Jesus answered John’s question and doubt about if he was the messiah by referring to the old testament predictions and also the irrefutable evidence of his work on the earth. He says, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.” Maybe Jesus has a different view of what ministry looks like, maybe He has a different view of what life in him looks like. Maybe I am the one who needs to lay down my expectations and just walk by his spirit.
I believe that Jesus would answer my questions about if this is really what ministry on the race is supposed to look like or if I should look for something else in this way. Go and tell Pat what you hear and what you see: the spiritually dead are raised to life in Christ, a man living in the streets his whole life addicted to drugs has found true freedom in Christ, a brother and sister in the Lord struggling to love one another now have a deep and meaningful relationship, children searching for recyclables in a trash heap are being loved and cared for, my grace is taking root deep in the hearts of my children, and my glory is being proclaimed in 11 different countries.
God brought this man moses in the middle of the group freedom from his addiction through Christ in the streets of Granada! He was left laying the street after we prayed and when he woke he just kept saying "Whoa, what happened?" He went on to share his life story and stated that he had never shared those things with anyone before! Pray his faith grows deep! Praise God!
Jesus is changing the world though us! Does he need me, of course not, but he is using me! Jesus said tell John this is what you see and hear, and I am telling you Christ is on the move through his broken and often timid children! This trip might not meet my expectations and that is a good thing, Jesus said that He can do more than we ask or we even think and this is exactly what He is up to! Thanks for being a part of this with me. May the grace a peace of God overflow in you hearts through our awesome savior Jesus Christ! Blessings.
