November 8, 2008
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“So Rachel, has anyone gotten saved?”
i hear the question with dread. the deer in the headlights. My ministry in Brasil is limited on how much i can share the gospel–simply because of language barriors. While people are quick to start conversations with me because i am new and different…they are slow to speak of matters of the heart because i am new and different–i am still, and in some sense will always be, the forienger. with children, it is hard for them to understand my accent. When they have questions, i am quick to find someone to help explain it to them–someone who can explain much better than i.
so i will confess to you here and now: i have not led one Brasilian to the Lord in all the time i have been here. Some days, the full extent of my ministry is miscommunication and misunderstanding…but i hope it is with a smile and a heart of love. i am not here to save anyone, i am here to love. i am here to be God’s hands to those around me. to show Him, to share Him. I am here to live day by day. and in that day, to find Jesus so i can show Him to others.
Save the people is the cry–but let us not drown out the voices of the babies who are saved and never grow spiritually–and lie there helpless on the floor until someone comes along and destroys them. i am NOT saying salvation is not important. i am just saying it is one pit stop in the road–what about the rest of the traveling? what about the road TO salvation-the planting seeds, conversations, love, care, listening–and the road AFTER salvation–discipleship, sharing, encouraging, exhorting, correcting, fellowship? the whole journey is important–just as important.
Salvation is a marker, yes, and how joyous it is to be in on that party. but it is not my party. When someone is saved, it certainly was not me–GOD FORBID it be–for if it was, then i have the power to undo it too. Please do not ask me if i have gone to Brasil to save people, because i have not and i cannot.
How do you measure success? it is not by how many are saved. success is a day lived with Christ. seeking Him, and then sharing what you find. on whatever part of the road you are at. in the end, i cannot measure this success in your life, and you cannot in mine. i am called to obedience to Christ, and i will give account for that–that is my responsibility, no more and no less.
Comments (2)
I’m so so glad you said all of this. a hearty amen!
I’m praying for you
this is a lovely post.
we meet people when we ourselves are on our journey and they too, are on their own journey. who is to say that our sharing the love of Christ won’t lead them to salvation later in their journey?
you’re right – obedience to Christ is all we can offer and all we should give.