Five students from the Baptist Campus Ministry at Auburn University at Montgomery were in Nashville recently working with missionaries to reach Syrian, Iraqi and Kurdish people groups, to name a few.
Our daily agenda is usually dependent on whatever local missionaries Josh and Tracie had already planned for their day.
We look for potential persons of peace by walking up and down streets in neighborhoods, offering to pray for people.
We’ve met lots of internationals, prayed for them and shared the Gospel, but I think the most profound thing has come when Josh walks around with us and, on a whim, shrugs and says, “I think I know this family. Let’s see if they’re home.”
Usually, they are, and we’re enthusiastically ushered in, fed and treated to an hour or two of this new culture. We’ve only been here five days, and this has happened so many times that I’m beginning to think Josh knows half of Nashville.
But why do I think this is so profound? Because this is not my way of life. I do my own thing and wait for people to come to me in search of the Gospel.
In 1 Peter 4:8, we are urged: “Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
If we really do love one another “intensely,” the way that Christ loves, our hearts should break as we see people in the image of God, man, and woman, God’s favorite creation.
We won’t hesitate to make and build relationships with strangers on a daily basis. How many times do we walk right past a person because we think we don’t have time or energy when they are more than likely thrilled to open their home to a perfect stranger simply because of their culture?
We have tasted that the Lord is good and been called by Him out of the darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2), and yet we busy ourselves with things that have no eternal value.
Jesus didn’t command us to go therefore and make disciples unless you’re in college because then you’re too busy. We make time for the things we want to make time for.
Join me today as I am challenged by three things:
- To love in action and truth rather than hollow talk (1 John 3:18).
- To actively seek opportunities to share the Gospel instead of waiting passively for them to arrive (Matthew 28:19).
- To see people as loved by God instead of strangers or projects (Genesis 1:27).
Julie is a student at Auburn University at Montgomery. She and a team of students recently served in Nashville ministering to refugees this summer – after spending spring break on mission in Nashville.
