Christianese

A few nights ago, a student of mine was messaging me, just random conversation. Sad that I'm moving , etc so on and so forth. She abruptly says, "you're religious right?" Now I paused for a moment, I could have gone into the theological aspects of it all, how religion is what's killed people, and how having religion and having God are different things. What comes out of a man's mouth can make him unclean (Matthew 15:10-11). However, getting into all this would invoke confusion, I didn't want that. That was undesirable.

So, I decided, this may be a chance to minister to this girl like I've wanted, God is giving me the opportunity, and I need to take it. At which point I go into a short bit about Jeremiah and the Israelites and how Nebacunezzer is going to oppress them for 70 years, but to not lose hope. For God has a plan, plans for a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And I worked her experiences with ecstasy and other drugs, relationships falling apart into how a plan can work out. We all are going to go through some hard times but there is a future, prosperity. Now she no longer does the drugs, and she even tells others about the dangers of them, her relationships are stronger than ever, and she's continuing her schooling.

This young girl doesn't believe in God, at least for now. As you talk to more people it can shake the foundation, even one person can shake the foundations of many. Martin Luther King Jr is a shining example of that. When the man's house had been burned down with racist groups, he lead his community in a time of prayer and thanksgiving for the companionship of each other and they broke out in Amazing Grace. One man, shook the foundations.

I let this girl now, that even though she may not believe in God, I see God believes in her. And even if you believe in God, but just aren't in a good place with Him, you may not like Him, but He loves you. He loves you so much he sent his son to die on the cross for your sins (John 3:16). He wants you to be with Him, he has offered you life, free of sin, free of temptation, life everlasting, just for having faith in him, He saves you (Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, after some time of conversation with this girl, I didn't bring her to Christ, but there is the seed. And even the mightiest of oaks, grew from the tiniest of seeds. At the end of the conversation I just let her know that God does have a purpose for her, and that even if she doesn't believe it or accept it, God does have a plan, God has her life in His very capable hands.

God is pursuing you, unrelenting. He wants you. And He won't give up until He has you.