Last weekend was Pride Week here in the city. It's one of those weekends were you should probably just stay home since the traffic is so bad and it's crowded everywhere. I remembered this from last year when my family had come to visit. (that was interesting!)
This year one of the main events was happening just a block from our church--and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to serve. We opened the doors to our church and offered our bathrooms to the crowds as well as water and snacks for free.
I was amazed at the number of people that we were able to meet. Hundreds of people used the restrooms within hours and we ran out of supplies multiple times! It was great to be able to serve in such a simple -- but meaningful way.
As we took a moment to walk through the crowd we couldn't help but question how Christians should live among the lost. We don't have any answers yet, but we know that our tendencies to judge and condemn are wrong. Christ loved. (there's the answer!)
The next day during my quiet time I read Hebrews 4 and the words washed over me and I realized that not one person in that huge crowd of people is forgotten or lost by God. He knows each and every single one of them. And He loves them. He desires them to be in His kingdom.
"For
the word of God is
living and
active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the division of
soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and
able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And
there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are
open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Therefore, since we have a great
high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. For we do not have
a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been
tempted in all things as
we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with
confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
I don't have to judge or condemn. God's word will penetrate deeper than anything I have to say or preach. God knows their hearts and their intentions. I don't have to worry about any of that. I can just love and let God do His thing. It's so freeing to trust Him with all that goes on around us in this city. He can do anything!
Last weekend was Pride Week here in the city. It's one of those weekends were you should probably just stay home since the traffic is so bad and it's crowded everywhere. I remembered this from last year when my family had come to visit. (that was interesting!)
This year one of the main events was happening just a block from our church--and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to serve. We opened the doors to our church and offered our bathrooms to the crowds as well as water and snacks for free.
I was amazed at the number of people that we were able to meet. Hundreds of people used the restrooms within hours and we ran out of supplies multiple times! It was great to be able to serve in such a simple -- but meaningful way.
As we took a moment to walk through the crowd we couldn't help but question how Christians should live among the lost. We don't have any answers yet, but we know that our tendencies to judge and condemn are wrong. Christ loved. (there's the answer!)
The next day during my quiet time I read Hebrews 4 and the words washed over me and I realized that not one person in that huge crowd of people is forgotten or lost by God. He knows each and every single one of them. And He loves them. He desires them to be in His kingdom.
"For
the word of God is
living and
active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the division of
soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and
able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And
there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are
open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Therefore, since we have a great
high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. For we do not have
a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been
tempted in all things as
we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with
confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
I don't have to judge or condemn. God's word will penetrate deeper than anything I have to say or preach. God knows their hearts and their intentions. I don't have to worry about any of that. I can just love and let God do His thing. It's so freeing to trust Him with all that goes on around us in this city. He can do anything!
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