"Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord's message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have the faith."
-2 Thessalonians 3:1-2.
I've been asking not only for financial support to go to New York City, but more importantly for support through prayer. I read the verses above last night before I went to bed and realized this is exactly what needs to be prayed--not only for me, but for every missionary.
The whole reason I'm going to New York is to spread the Gospel so that people's lives will be changed eternally. If this trip isn't bathed in prayer, chances are: it's not going to be very advantageous.
If you would like to support me and other summer/full-time missionaries through prayer, here's a quick list of things that you can pray for:
Safety getting there
Safety while there
Opened hearts
Lives to be changed eternally, for the Glory of God
Boldness to share the Gospel
I can't say it any better than this sermon jam by Matt Chandler. Watch and listen! It's great.
He traded His crown for a crown of thorns
He picked up His cross and laid down His sword
He stumbled down the road, bruised and beaten for me
Jesus walked the way of grief
Hallelujah!
On the via dolorosa
All my sin was carried away
And the power of hell was broken
As He gave His life away
He knew it was to come from the very start
But His love for all the world beat inside His heart
He climbed the road of suffering to the hill of calvary
Where the saints would be redeemed
Hallelujah!
Jesus fixed His eyes upon the new horizon
Soon He would arise, and the world would be forgiven
Hallelujah, Jesus rose again!
On the cross He shed His blood at calvary
And I'm thankful for the journey of my King
On the via dolorosa
Today is Good Friday. The day we celebrate Christ walking down the via dolorosa--a path that led to His death (for a few days). I was thinking earlier and realized I've never really celebrated it. My friends and I watched The Passion of the Christ last night, a movie that I had never seen. I never realized what "beaten" actually meant, and to be honest, I still don't fully understand what He went through, but I have a better idea now.
If you watch the video I posted up above, you'll see two men beating Jesus and laughing while they're doing it. That was me. That was you. Our sin is what forced that nail in His hand, in His feet. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities."
Here's the good news for us in the second part of that verse:
"Punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds."
Verse 6 goes on to say, "We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all." (emphasis added)
We turned our backs on God in the beginning, yet God sent His own Son down to earth to live a perfect and pleasing life to God so that He would die and be the only perfect sacrifice. And conquer death three days later. And if we so choose to accept this free gift that the Lord has blessed us with, we not only get the Holy Spirit within us on earth, but we get assurance of eternal life in Heaven.
This is the reason I'm going to New York City this summer. I want people to understand all of this and live their lives for God.
I hope you have a wonderful Easter.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life. -John 3:16
As my last post said, I'm going to be living in New York City for 5 weeks of this summer. I'm so excited! I've never been to the Big Apple before, so it's a little nerve-racking to think about being in such a big city, but it's going to be a great adventure.
I'm going to be going to some different campuses there in NYC to share the Gospel with students. That's also nerve-racking. Even though in America we don't really get physically persecuted for being Christian or trying to help someone see the Light, we still face rejection from loved ones. This really shouldn't slow us down--Christ was rejected. A lot. And He still is. And when I read about martyrs, it makes me realize how blessed I am to live in this country and inspires me to be bolder in my faith. Jesus gave His life so I would be saved from hell and the shackles of sin. The least I could do is devote my life to Him, right?
So that's why I'm going to New York! I want to devote my life to Him and I want to use this summer to go to a place that needs to know Him. I'm in a place in my life where I may never be able to do this again--just take off for 5 weeks in the summer, go to NYC, and proclaim the Gospel to the students there. I don't want to waste another summer.
Throughout the summer, I'll be randomly updating this blog with pictures and videos, lessons I've learned, experiences, etc. So be sure to keep on checking the site!
