The Lord of the Harvest is at work…everywhere.
Okay, I had a hard week of striving against stress, my flesh and day to day frustration. I entered Thursday night exhausted and not really desiring to go anywhere. To top it all off I jammed my thumb on Wednesday and I have pain added to the mix. There was a still small voice urging me on to not give in to my fatigue and desire to stay home, and instead go to a ministry in which I am involved. I sat singing hymns acapella, trying not to think about my tiredness. My sinuses were draining and I had to cough frequently between stanzas. I love the singing of the hymns. They are rich with dotrine and melodic reminders of such a great salvation.
The lesson started and I found myself furtively glancing at the clock all too often as I yearned for the passing of time. I wanted to go home, to sleep to rest my flesh. Typically we break out into small groups after the lesson. The ministry I am involved in is Celebrate Recovery Inside and the place is the Fort Des Moines Correctional Facility. After the lesson, we break out into small groups and talk about the subject a little more intensely. I sat hoping that all the others would head out to other places and leave me there alone. I could then slip out unnoticed to drive home and go to bed. God had other plans. A pair of gentleman sitting to my right noticed me and asked if they could join me for discussion. Too tired to decline I nodded and the sat next to me. One of the men was a volunteer and the other an inmate. The inmate had an urgency about him. He was in the mix and listening very intensely as the other volunteer spoke of his experience coming to know Jesus Christ. At some point the in the conversation, the inmate, mentioned that he had not had the experience of coming to Christ and that he had gone to Church as a young man as a obligation. He had been raised in main-line denomination that was strong on ritual, but weak on personal relationship. During the lesson, Chaplain Mike Huff had mentioned that surrendering to Jesus Christ is the essential step in change. This resonated with the resident. Mike talked about a chance encounter with a family member and how God had provided him a moment of grace. The resident who joined us talked of his own estrangement in his family. I could tell that God was moving in this man. He was direct and there was an enthusiasm for every word spoke to him. I opened the Bible in front of me and sought a stop along the roman Road. There was a little whisper in the background of my heart. “He is ready now.” I forged on as the other volunteer continued to speak. I think we are so programmed to lead people to Jesus that we some times forget that the Holy Spirit does the convicting. I wedged my way in to the conversation and tossed in a couple of scriptures. “HE IS READY NOW!” The whisper was louder. The resident said “I know I need to know Jesus now.” I asked “Are you ready to ask Jesus into your life tonight?” “YES!” The man prayed to receive Christ. He was ready. I drove home with a new understanding that God brings the increase. Our job is to be faithful to listen for the God whispers in the background of our hearts. We listen for God to tell us who is ready and where He is working. Sometimes few words are needed.
