Those 10 000 Reasons

One of the more powerful stories I've come across recently was from a sermon I listened to by Jackie Pullinger, called God Uses Foolish Things. She has a really good point in there that I want to share with you. She was working in a drug rehab, and introducing people to Jesus. She wouldn't preach to them, or read the bible to them, she would just introduce them to Him, and pray for them, and wait for the Holy Spirit to talk to them. In response to hearing Him, these drug addicts would then give their lives to Jesus.

They would stay at the rehab house with her to help get off drugs, and they would then go through the bible. But she wouldn't teach the bible to them, she would discuss the stories in the gospels, and get them to discuss it with each other. Around three days after introducing them to Jesus, she would get to the parable of the man who finds a treasure in the field, sells all he has and buys the field (Matthew 13:44). Then they would discuss this parable. So, she would ask them, "Do you think you understand this story?", they'd say yes. "So then, tell me, who is the man in the parable, and what is the treasure?" She says, 100% of the time these men who had had no theological teaching, often no teaching whatsoever, in fact, would respond "Well, Jesus is the man, and I am the treasure." Which she says is theologically correct, unless you think you can buy God. I thought that they would reply the other way around, because that's the way I've been taught it by a pastor. Or a man. They have never been taught it by man, they only have the Holy Spirit to listen to for understanding.

When I heard this, I was quite astonished when I reflected on how I read the bible. I often will be reading a passage with a particular sermon in mind, and not be clearing my mind and waiting for Christ to reveal to me His heart behind the words. I just thought how I need to start reading the bible over in a completely new way. With God. It was Him that wrote it, He is the Word, and He is living in me. Surely something should be able to penetrate the intellect and alter the spirit?

When I depend on man, I fear that I will run out of power, or inspiration for falling in love with God, because man is so finite. If I forget all earthly wisdom, and depend entirely on God, I truly believe I could, daily, get those "10 000 reasons" to fall in love with Him all over gain.

Rising Above

A couple years ago I went hiking with a bunch of friends up near God's Window. It was a four day hike, but we decided to take five days to do it. We stopped over the one day and just spent the day relaxing and swimming, and digging holes for our toilet breaks.

There was a 12m high rock jump that every one of the 30 people with us on the hike seemed keen to do. Everyone. The younger people, the older people. Which meant that I would have to do it, too. Standing on the top I just made my decision. "I'm going to do this. I'm going to jump no matter what. I'm going to step to the edge, and I'm going to be so scared, and my mind is going to tell me that this is a bad idea and I shouldn't do it, but I'm going to. I'm going to rise above those voices, ignore them and jump into that water that is apparently SEVEN THOUSAND METERS AWAY!!! So what's the point in waiting up at the top and mustering up the courage? I'm jumping whether I wait or not." So I did. I stepped to the edge when my turn came, and without a second thought I leapt off the rock and jumped into the water with all the others who had already done it.

Afterwards a few people came up to me and said, "Wow, Gav. You're brave, hey? No fear of heights for you. You just jumped like it was easy!" But they didn't know that the truth is, I'm petrified of heights. I don't know why, but my body just locks up when I let my mind perceive greater heights that I'm at.

I hope I don't sound like a stuck record, but I was talking to a friend recently about my moving to Brazil and leaving my job and working as a missionary and I realized that this is almost exactly what it feels like. I know that this is the right move for my life. I can't sit by any longer, hoping that someone else will do something brave for God to show His love for His people, and to be His hands and feet. So I know that this is definitely what I want to do. But that doesn't mean it's not scary, right? That doesn't mean that I'm fearlessly stepping into the great unknown without second thoughts. Everyday is a battle to force myself to confront my fears, but you know what? I've made my mind up and no matter how difficult it is, I'm going to rise above my thoughts and fears, and I'm going to take this step! I'm not going to do it half hearted, either. I'm going to put everything I can into it, and invest all my effort to making this work. My hope is that there will be enough people who believe in me, or this calling to support me and make it a long term endeavour.

:)

Thanks for reading this.