Question 6 - The Big One

Is this really what God wants for my life to be able to best glorify Him with this life He's given me?

As I mentioned in the original post, I had been contemplating a lot of heavy issues of my heart at the end of the summer. All of the questions really culminated up to this final point really. This question is really two questions in one: a) Should I be doing Ministry? b) Have I utterly failed in St. Petersburg?

a) I'm pretty confident that no matter what I get paid to do, I will be proclaiming Christ's name. However, should "ministry" be the long-term career that I seek? *Side Note* I speak of "ministry" as a professional career here. I believe that everyone should treat their everyday circumstance and job as their own ministry. However, that's a discussion for another time. *End Note* Well, if my "end-goal" is to see Christ come back before I reach the end of my life, then yes, I believe that it should be my career. However, I cannot let that long-term goal (which is great!) allow me to lose sight of the present time and age in which I am a part of. I need to see every opportunity as an opportunity to share the gospel of Christ!

b) I think it is so easy to see the lack of d-groups and people coming to Christ during this project as a sign of failure. Yes, we want to see fruit, as it were, for our labors. However, we are called to so abundantly and faithfully and to labor diligently; not to be harvesters. If the hundreds of people that we have shared the gospel with this summer don't come to know Jesus until 3 days, 3 months, 3 years, or even 30 years after we're done here, will I/we still see this project as a success? YES! Of course!

I'm reminded of Ezekiel and Isaiah who were commissioned to spread the news of God's kingdom to people they were specifically told that would not accept it. BUT, they still went out and God set aside a remnant to hear and repent and believe.

This is my heart.

My utmost desire in this lifetime is to see Christ's second coming. I desire that and want that so badly that sometimes... actually, A LOT of times it makes me critical of others and my own life. The root issue and question of almost all of these previous questions is this: 

If I die before Jesus returns will I be bitter against God, or will I simply rejoice in the fact that I was able to live my life to honor and glorify my Savior King to my utmost and give everything I had in steadfast pursuit of the single greatest and most loving cause this world has ever seen?

THAT is the question. I pray that God would continually mold and shape my heart so that it is the latter and never the former.

Question 5

Am I looking to God first for my provision and rest and to carry my burden?

In a sense I am, but if we look back to the struggle question #1 then I am also looking elsewhere for my peace and pleasure. James 1:16-18 tells me that God gives every good thing. He is the ultimate provider for all of my gifts and any goodness, so why don't I practice ASKING Him for those good things? I need to hold onto the promises that Jesus provides on prayer. I can ask anything I wish and it will be done for me (John 15:7); if I ask in His name, it will be done (John 14:13); God, like a father, longs to give me those things that I truly desire (Matthew 7:7-11); and that God hears the prayers of the humble (Psalm 10:17).

Ok, so that last one obviously isn't form Jesus. However, after I claim those promises, I need to put them into practice. I need to be praying... A LOT! As Ronald Dunn put it, "Prayer is work" and I cannot afford to neglect it. I need to be casting my burdens upon the Lord (Matthew 11:28-30) and asking Him to lead me to the right actions after that.

This is simply an answer to one of the questions I had on my heart at the end of LINC. You can see the original post here.

Question 4

Is Charlotte God's desire for me?

As far as Charlotte is concerned, this question came from another question that was asked by my good brother, Michael Ashton, last night while he was speaking about the Dominican Republic: "Where can I most effectively multiply my life for God?" Now of course, he was talking about the question that he asked himself when deciding what he should do for his summer vacation. However, it made this question come up in my life and as I wrote these answers, the answer popped into my head.

Sometimes it is necessary to leave a place so that others can step-up and take the lead. Am I leaving Grace with brothers who will step-up and take the lead in my stead? You bet! I'm so excited for Keith, Zach, Justin, Jeremy, Trent, and Albert. These men are going to blow what Keegan, David, and I did out of the water. I pray that they simply can team up and work together for God's greater kingdom not only in Raleigh, but also in the future.

So, now that I haven't answered the question, I will say yes. Yes, I do believe that Charlotte is the right place for me to not only give others the opportunity to step-up, but also because it is so ready for the gospel. It has the great potential to be a highway for the gospel to reach the nations, if only that's what God wants. I pray that it would be so, but I pray even more that if UNC-Charlotte is not, that God would lead Keegan and myself to wherever it is that He has a highway planned.

This is a series of answering some questions that were on my heart. You can see the original post here.