I have been listening to this “Yes We Can” song on repeat for the last two hours. The Lord randomly put it on my heart a few hours ago, and I’ve been listening to it as I’ve been going about my evening. But I have something I wanna say to y’all.
People sit around and complain a lot. This person didn’t do this. And that person should’ve done that. So I pose a question: What have YOU done?
This isn’t a political statement, but I gotta use it to get to the bigger point, so stick with me for a second. If you listen to the words of this song, based on one of President Obama’s speeches from waaaaay back (circa 2008), it talks about a bunch of different people. A president. An activist. Immigrants. Slaves. Women. Kids. Voters. Americans.
His campaign slogan didn’t hinge on what HE was going to do. It focused on what WE were going to do. So what have we done? About our failing school system. About a lack of clean water. About worldwide poverty. About sex trafficking. About kids bringing guns to school. About homelessness. About people dying from preventable and treatable illnesses.
When was the last time you took the homeless man who lives outside your office to coffee on a cold morning? Or spent a Saturday with a kid who’s single mom has to spend the day at work to keep a roof over their heads? Joined a peaceful protest against police brutality? Been a light to those around you and brought hope to someone who didn’t have any? When was the last time you were truly Christ to someone around you?
Last week, my mom came to Thailand and we got to participate in bar ministry, where we visit women working in the red light district . It was so cool to watch my mom bring light to the people we interacted with. She shined so bright that for a little while, it didn’t seem dark. And let me tell you, it was dark.
Around Easter, I spent some time reading Matthew 5. I love the Beatitudes, which I blogged about before I left for the race. But a few verses after that, it says this: Let your light shine before you in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16).
There’s darkness all around us, guys. Whether it’s on the streets of Chiang Mai our the streets of Washington, DC. You don’t have to be on the other side of the world to bring Christ’s light to the darkness. He is the lantern that will light the path of the weary. But He so often uses us to bring His lamp to the sheep lost on the dark. How have you been Christ lately?
I stepped outside my comfort zone when my mom and I started bar ministry last week. I had to put myself aside and find Jesus’ heart for the situation. For the girls. For the johns. For the bar moms. For the ladyboys. For every single person in the red light district. I had to be Christ’s light. And the Lord helped me do that.
He challenged me last month to love His people with His love. That was easy to do last month. That’s not going to be the case this month. I’m going to have to find my love for those around me directly from God. He gave me that this last week, and I have no doubt He’ll continue to do the same from here on out.
So I’m challenging you to do something this month outside of your comfort zone. Something that you have to put completely in the Lord’s hands. Watch Him work. He’s a pretty cool guy. Let Him show you.
P.S. You should listen to the song. It’s right here if you’d care to take a listen ??
