God goes ahead of you, He walks behind you and beside you. God is under you, above you, in you. All at the same time, and with you not often realizing it. Tonight I had the opportunity to meet two men who are absolutely and dearly loved by Jesus Christ, and in whom I believe God is doing amazing things. Herman and Ray-Ray are two guys just toughing it out on the streets of Lexington. They've taught me some things tonight that need to be shared if I'm going to prevent myself from learning again.
Pray. My friends and I prayed earnestly for God's presence tonight, and the Holy Spirit came. He guided us into truth about ourselves and about the people we talked to, protected us until we looked back on the night at the mistakes we made, and personally gave me a desire to become rich in the knowledge of the Lord. It is because of Him, through Him, and to Whom I give all glory for the things we were able to do tonight.
Understand their needs. Tonight I had the amazing opportunity to feed Herman and Ray-Ray. We walked up to a restaurant called Tolly-Ho, and I fed them. Now while I do believe that my decision to do so was Spirit-led, I probably should have thought a little longer before venturing off to get them some food. For what I didn't realize was that Friday nights are like feast nights for the people who sleep at Phoenix Park. Every Friday night a group comes in at 9:30 and at 11 to bring the homeless people food. And while it is great that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are providing those things, we need to be careful that we don't become a social justice movement to the neglect of proclaiming the Gospel. Feeding people physically without offering them freedom in Christ is to disparage the Gospel and offer cheap grace. And that kind of ministry will never build the Kingdom effectively; it'll keep stomachs full and offer a twisted version of materialism.
Think before you act. Within two questions I was standing and walking with two older and larger gentlemen alone, heading to McDonald's for some food. Within another minute I realized what I had done; one of our rules is never go with someone (much less two men) alone, and here I was doing that. Praise God that in His mercy I was protected, but in the future I'm going to have to be a little wiser and more hesitant to get up and go.
Teach with loving authority. Most of the people that you will minister to in street ministry are street-wise. They will often tell you things that they think you want to hear and will often run you around in circles conversationally. You need to be careful to hear what they have to say, yet guide them with questions that will open opportunities to plant the seeds of the Gospel. Because at least in Lexington, most people, when asked, will tell you that they love the Lord; yet their lives, actions, and decisions do not line up with a transformed life for Christ. And it's with these people that discipleship is the next step. One thing that kept coming into my mind tonight was Jesus' statement "to whom much has been given much will be demanded." Though we need to be sensitive to where they are, we need not shy away from challenging them with the truth of the Gospel in love. Without God's truth they will remain crippled, blind, deaf and poor. Sadly, most of the churches in the Lexington area provide for physical needs without the challenge to grow deeper in Christ.
Bless richly. Working in this street ministry has helped me understand the Gospel in a whole new way. I'm beginning to understand how rich I am in Christ and yet how wretched I am in blessing others with what I've been given. I hardly ever share Jesus with others and the wisdom He has given me, and yet tonight I have met two men who have yet to understand how Christ transforms our lives from the inside out! They have yet to understand the power and blessings found in the Body of Christ! So when it comes to understanding God's Word I need to be hungry, so that when I get fed I may be able to give that to men like Herman and Ray-Ray. They have a craving for God's truth- even though they may not apprehend or comprehend it yet.
Lord, I give you all the glory for what happened tonight. You've done marvelously in my life and in the lives of those my friends and I have encountered. Continue your work in and through my life and the lives of my friends as we seek your will and your Kingdom.
With love,
The ADHD
~There's something over there! -->
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