Monday, August 15, 2011

Does it not stir up our hearts?

Okay, guys. It's been a while, but give me a break...I've been out of the country ;)

Since we've been back from South Asia, there is one single thing that God has kept heavy on my heart. And I think it's best explained in a quote by one of my heros:
"Does it not stir up our hearts to go forth and help them, does it not make us long to leave our luxury, our exceeding abundant light, and go to them that sit in darkness?" - Amy Carmichael
Does it not stir up our hearts?

While in South Asia, so many of us were completely overwhelmed by all the darkness surrounding us. But here's one question--is it not dark in America, too? Or is it just that we are so immersed in the darkness of our own culture that we don't even see it anymore?

I've been burdened and convicted about the ways I've failed to carry God's light into the darkness around me here. And if you're like me, it's easy to respond to that conviction by shrinking back and being so overwhelmed by failure that you wonder how you'll ever walk back into the areas you've failed and do it right this time.

But then I'm reminded--"All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matt 28:18). All authority belongs to Jesus, not to me. It's Jesus who saves, not me. Neither you nor I have any power to save, only Jesus.

The truth is, we are not able.
We are completely powerless.
Entirely weak.

Yet, God's power is made perfect in weakness. I can't explain it. I don't know how He does it. But He does it. Somehow, He does it.

So go.

And place no pressure on yourself to save or to speak the right words. After all, the power to save is not yours, and it is God's words that speak, not yours.

Find confidence in Christ's last words of His commission: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20).

What comfort to know that we do not fight this battle against darkness alone, for He is with us, to the end of the age.

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