On Tuesday I shared a little from the book "Bruckno." I've finished the book and you'll be happy to know that yes indeed Jesus did become a Motilone just as Mr. Olsen had pleaded. It was amazing to see just how much God was willing to reveal Himself to this people group. Since that post I've really been thinking over in my mind the power of God to save and His desire to see us save.
Last night at Prayer Meeting we spread out all of the registration sheets from our Community Day event on the alter and we prayed over them. Seeing the alter covered in all of those sheets of paper was one thing but then to realize that every paper had a name, a family, a story that all had needs was a bit overwhelming. There were people who openly said they were not a Christian, they didn't want information on "church," they didn't want people praying for they. To see so much lostness represented by these white pieces of paper made me think how massive it is on a global scale. What must it look like to God for Him to look down from His throne and see a sea of the lost? Oh how it must break His heart.
In Ukraine it's just as overwhelming to walk through the market place and realize that more than likely ever person you pass do NOT know who Jesus is or why He came to die for them? Can you imagine walking through the mall at looking at every store clerk or every walker or shopper and realize that they were lost? It would have to shake you up a little.
So much lostness all over the place, even in our own community, yet people that hear still don't listen. Why is it that hearts are still so hard? The Bible teaches us that God is not willing that anyone should perish but that all will have eternal life, yet I must confess sometimes it just doesn't seem that way in places like Ukraine. Why is it that hearts are still so hard and resistant? Why is it that they are a people that is satisfied with going to hell when you outright ask them? Why do they continue to die and slip into an eternity of hell? Is God not interested in saving Ukrainians?
I'm glad that God has broken my heart over the lostness I see but WHY GOD WHY are they still so hard and resistant? Of course the parable of the seed reminds us that it's usually an issue of heart...meaning hearts haven't been properly prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Word. Why aren't hearts being prepared? Could it be that we are asking and praying enough? Only the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts but it is our job to be asking the Lord to open their hearts up to RECEIVE the good Word that is sown.
The more I think about it the more questions I ask myself and ask God. This morning I found this Scripture in my quiet time...Isa 59:1 Look! Listen! GOD's arm is not amputated--he can still save. GOD's ears are not stopped up--he can still hear.
Isa 59:2 There's nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.
OUCH! Matthew Henry Concise Commentary says this...If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying.
God says in Isa 50:2 that He's willing to deliver..."So why didn't anyone come when I [The Lord] knocked? Why didn't anyone answer when I called? Do you think I've forgotten how to help? Am I so decrepit that I can't deliver? I'm as powerful as ever, and can reverse what I once did: I can dry up the sea with a word, turn river water into desert sand, And leave the fish stinking in the sun, stranded on dry land . . .
I think God has challenged me, hopefully all of us to look at the sin in our lives and confess it before Him, then be diligent in our prayer time for the lost to hear the Word as it is given. God has NOT FORGOTTEN TO HELP AS IT SAYS ABOVE! Whether it's Bruce or Brad/Paige or Rich and Michelle or our short-term mission teams, they CANNOT be successful in seeing their efforts change the world if we are not praying for the Holy Spirit to flow like a stream of living water out of them while at the same time convicting the lost of their need for a Savior. Our own efforts only lead to frustration and failure...God's efforts lead to new life and new beginnings. We need HIM! Let Him know that today and confess it to Him as you pray!
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