You cannot hope to deliver a people you have not first wept for
I heard this quote last weekend and since then it has been resonating in my heart. I was lead to read Nehemiah 1 while on my lunch break today. Although Nehemiah had been long removed from the bondage of the Israelites when he heard of their distress he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed. As God has begun to give me a heart for college students again, I find myself being more and more touched at the heart level when I see so many college students bound to idols and image and lack of identity. As God has been transforming my heart and filling it with His love for the students and campus I can no longer approach campus ministry from a detached point of view. Hebrews 4 tells us that we don’t have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities (the Message version says our “reality”). We must be willing to be touched at the heart level by those we want to reach if we ever hope to make a Kingdom impact.
One thing this generation knows is fake people. They have seen people come and minister with hopes of growing their church or reaching a “goal” but they want someone who is willing to come and be immersed in their world. Nehemiah could have remained distant from his past but he got right in the thick of things and because the people saw the purity of his heart they worked with all their heart (Neh 4:6). It's time for us as believers to come out of the 4 walls of the building and become Christ's body. God's command was to "GO" not to remain in a building. If your "visitation" doesn't lead to a deeper heart for God's people than I wonder if it was just an emotional high.
As I have been going to St. Augustine's campus there have been so many student who are open to hear the gospel but not because I came with a convincing reason why they were going to hell and needed Jesus but because they felt Christ love through me. It may be cliche but it holds so much truth, people don't care what you have to say until they see how much you care. It is clearly seen when I go with God's heart and when I don't.
Father, I pray that you would fill me with more of your love. I want to know how wide it can reach, how deep it can go. Holy Spirit, help me to open my heart to be touched by the reality of those I minister to. May I always be willing to associate with those in a low position. Lord teach us to love sincerely, no longer with selfish intentions but out of pure hearts. Break our hearts with the things that break Your heart, Lord. Father, perfect Your love in us that would cast out all fear, empowering us to go into darkness in our weakness with the simple message of the gospel of Jesus.
