Tuesday, May 31, 2011

"I've never heard Jonah that way before"

About two weeks ago, a thought was planted in my head (no doubt by God), about how I need to be more active in the community of Athens, especially this summer as I have a little more free time. Well, every Saturday morning during the month of May, my dad and some other men from our church have been going to the local prison to do Bible studies with the inmates there. Last week my dad mentioned that they didn't have a woman for this week to go speak to the women inmates.

So immediately, the Lord starting convicting me that this is what I have been thinking about, and that I need to do this. My flesh wanted to say no: "I'm so young" "What if they ask question I don't know the answer to" "I don't feel that knowledgeable spiritually" and "I'm not a very good orator, what if I can't explain the gospel very clearly". Funny how the very next day, during my quiet time, I read this verse...

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power...For consider your calling brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God...Therefore, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'."
-1 Corinthians 1:17, 26-29,31

The Lord told me simply, "You have all the 'excuses', but really, you're just too scared." So I decided for once in my life, to not argue any more with the Lord, and do what he told me to do. I prayed and the Lord laid on my heart to go through the story of Jonah, and not just the part of the big fish eating him, but the ENTIRE book, complete with the gospel presentation.

Now, I would post my notes on the book, the 7 pages of notes that I took with me to the jail, but if wouldn't be complete accurate as to all I discussed. The Holy Spirit completely took over my words. I used some of my notes, sure, after all, I did plan some of what I wanted to say. But I covered the morning in prayer and was desirous for the Spirit to guide my words, and he did...it was incredible. I don't think I've ever given a more clear explanation as to the gospel, what Jesus did for us on the cross, and how to have salvation...why? Because it seriously wasn't me talking...it was all God. And I'm so thankful for that. Ephesians 6:19 became real to me. God gave me words to fearlessly open my mouth and proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

When I was done, one of the ladies said to me..."I've never heard Jonah that way before. All I've ever heard about was the big fish." How sad, but how true that is of most people. They never get past a big fish swallowing Jonah, or even worse, they try and try to figure out what the big fish was and they never dig deeper into the fact that Jesus says he's like Jonah in the fact that he will spend three days and three nights in the belly of the earth, and that Jesus is the one that is "greater than Jonah" (Matthew 12:40-41).

Right now, I can only count myself priviledged that God would count me worthy by giving me the honor of revealing the great news that is the gospel to those lovely ladies in the prison.