I know it's not my turn to post because I already posted just a week or two ago but I just wanted to share this one experience Renna and I had just tonight. I think it'll remind us once again why Diakanos exists.
Well, before we left for Center City, (as you guys can recall) we first prayed for the night. When Katherine led us to pray for anyone in particular that we might meet again at the park, I recalled David whom I met only once before. David is actually not homeless but he always hangs around at Love Park. While I just found out tonight that it's because he extremely hates the people in his house, what concerned me most was that he was in active rebellion against God. During that one time I met him, he told me that there was no changing him, that regardless of whether God existed and loved David, there was nothing that David wanted to or could do but to continue living until death, and move on into eternity in Hell. So I prayed for David's soul that he might be saved from otherwise certain Hell that he himself seemed to know about all too well.
In that moment of prayer, I first admitted to how I really do not have an ounce of control over saving his fate, his soul, and bringing about miraculous salvation; as a college student I have no social work training for any practical counseling as well. I simply prayed that in my powerless nature God would manifest Himself and do something Himself, because He was and is the only one who can. I think that attitude and prayer were the critical steps to God's using me as a vessel to open up more of David's heart tonight.
I didn't see David when I got there and ended up talking with Crystal to Franklin, a recent homeless. A little while in, though, I was surprised to see Katherine call me over and tell me that David wanted to see me. I walked across the park to find him talking with Renna while he stood waiting for me. I was at first very surprised to hear him ask if I was "alright." I only met him once before, and that encounter wasn't very effective in terms of ministry on my part. But he had a look of genuine interest and friendship in his eyes. Next, he talked about his problems that deserve a whole different blog post in of itself but after that he told me how he feels his heart slowly changing every time he sees me, us, Diakanos, ministering to him at the park. I praised God for answering a part of my prayer just earlier when I heard that inch closer to God but in addition to that, it was that moment that really hit the spot for me. I realized once again just why we Diakanos exists.
Although we can't necessarily take them out of homelessness, and although our bagged lunches are more of snacks to their daily diet of other free food and soup kitchen food, we bring something greater to them. We bring them the saving and life-changing Love of Jesus Christ that no amount of money and therapy can bring about. I was experientially and all too vividly reminded of that fact when once again I saw plain evidence of God's Love slowly but steadily and gradually changing hearts, and in particular, David's rebellious heart. Moreover, I saw that all the more personally when David told me how ministers like Diakanos, including me, kept him going. I thanked God for using me then to minister to David, through me.
Although not all homeless people will be thankful or changed by Diakanos' works through God's power, it is a fact that some have, are, and will continue to be brought from death into life. This is why we exist, to be not only children communing and growing in personal relationship with God, but also to use our growth primarily for the purpose of being the Jesus for this World, that Jesus Christ Himself was for it as well. This is why we exist, to exist not only for personal growth and betterment of just ourselves and our cliques at Church, but also for the salvation of this World that matters just as much, if not more, to God as does one part of His body.
I just want to encourage you all that God is using us to save lives, and that such miracles are happening despite our weaknesses. And I just want to praise you all by saying that such miracles are happening through our weaknesses because we have opened up our hearts as living sacrifices for God.
But as sinners, we still hold onto idols and there is still a lot of baggage, blockage, and walls that prevent God from doing more through us. Let us pray for our own hearts that we would be willing to sacrifice our desire for physical comfort, security, and other aspirations for what rots and inevitably disappears, that we would be in complete surrender and union with God's Will. Only then can we cease to question whether God is really working sometimes. Only then can we be in a spiritual position to finally begin to constantly experience (without previously necessary revivals) the unfailing ceaseless works and the Glory of God in this World.
Your Brother,
Elliot
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