Thursday, February 10, 2011

opportunity

The Lord has begun to stir a passion in my heart. Don't get me wrong, I am very passionate about God but I feel He wants me to take it to the next level. A place of only fearing Him, not holding back, and not trying to justify why I don't do everything He calls me to. Complete sacrifice.

This would mean feeling very awkward in a lot of situations and doing things we are nervous about. This pull has to do with Long Beach State. I feel that the Lord wants to start a movement here. I am currently sitting in the library and as I look around, I wonder what will happen to all these students. Will they ever come to know Christ? Will they always feel a duty to pursue worldly knowledge and success? What if no one ever has to nerve to tell them about Jesus?

This could very well mean that they will not go to heaven. That they will perish for eternity because I didn't want to get a little uncomfortable. Something that begins to surface is wanting people to like me. If I go around telling people about God, and doing what He actually calls us too, then I will not be liked by most and probably made fun of or worse. But who really cares right? I have Jesus and that is more than enough. So why do I continue to doubt and hold back?

These are just thoughts running through my head. I think they all hold some truth in them though. Like if we truly believed in hell and all that is, wouldn't we do everything possible to stop people from going there? I would never want anyone to go there but yet I am willing to just walk by someone who has a real chance of going there.

Its all a process to learn how to go about these things. Relying on God's power and not trying to do it on our own. I definitely need to spend time in prayer about all this and see how the Lord wants to move in it. I know it is all in His timing.

"remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:20

14 comments:

  1. Wholehearted concecration to the Lord. That's so cool Justin. I want to hold nothing back either. To see Revival all over my campus would be amazing!

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  2. Awesome Justin! God has already given you every qualification you need to be used by Him... a willing heart that believes in Him. Your care and concern for the salvation of others is admirable and encouraging. We are all called to care like this, but we get pretty darn concerned with our own "reading", that we easily forget about the other people "sitting in the library". Thanks for reminding me of them today ;-)

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  3. Really exciting. May God lead and guide you. May His Spirit stir and refine.

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  4. This really resonated with me Justin. I too have alot of these same thoughts that linger in my heart and mind. Thanks for being open and honest about them and challenging me to thing some of these things through

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  5. Your open eyes and open heart are a gift. Really, really cool.

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  6. Justin,
    You are ablaze and it is contagious!

    If you have time, I think you would love: The Cost of Discipleship - by Boenhoffer.

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  7. k, so you sound just like my friend Ryan Klement who started Campus Crusade for Christ at LB. idk if he is still working with Cru there or not, but if you want to talk to him about what he observed with the student body and such in their relations to Christ, then I can give you his info. have you seen yet the guy(s) who come with the hugemongous sign that he wears on his belt because it is so heavy that names all of the types of people that are "going to hell"?? ("gypsies" "gays" "Jews" etc... :( )well idk how he does it but he is allowed to walk around with his sign in the middle of the quad (like by the Liberal Arts buildings). I actually hope you get a chance sometime this semester to see him... because what the students DO is really interesting. yeah some people are standing around taking pix with their phones and stuff but out come Christians arguing TRUTH with this guy, in a real, loving way. it's one of the most beautiful things I saw on campus in four years there. There's nothing like Christians standing up for the ungodly, because we are all ungodly and we all for short. Christ isn't dead at LB. :) It's my opinion that His truth is hiding in the hearts of His people, though, and I am smiling because you are listening to the call to be different... "hide it under a bushel? no! I'm gonna let it shine..."

    There are lots of opportunities that come to you... such as the classroom... try Religion 100... with the professor I took that went from seminary to deciding to become Zorastrian because the "concept" of resurrection was "originally" in this older religion. But heads up, your grades will probably suffer... because mine did when I wrote about Truth. (But for me, it was definitely worth it to be true to who I am in Him and to represent Him well.) Just some thoughts. :)

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  8. Amen, change your world one student, one life at a time ... Or one campus at a time :)

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  9. Dude, God wants to start a radical movement in all the universities of Southern California. It is seriously crazy times. Praying for you, Long Beach, and the Holy Spirit moving in unbelievable ways. Like you said, trust in the Lord's faithfulness & strength.

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  10. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this. I'd like to know more about what you're thinking / feeling as you take on this task that God has given you.

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  11. Thanks for sharing this. It reminds me of that song by Hillsong, the lyrics say "Break my heart for what breaks yours..." and it's really cool and inspiring to hear you talk about God actually showing you that! His heart breaks for the lost, and ours should too...but mine certainly doesn't often enough. I'll definitely be dwelling on this one...

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  12. dude. SOOOO true. thats the only thing we're good for on this planet. if we grew soooooooooooo close to Jesus our life was just the best thing ever and we couldn't possibly get any closer to Him, but we never shared the Gospel..... our lives are still pointless. let the Spirit lead you and be BOLD.

    me n some buddies evangelize at the spectrum and at the block; usually friday nights, you should totally come

    ps it was nice kickin it with you at Waffles!

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  13. justin, God has started a movement. it is beginning in your heart. continue in your radical, limitless love for Him and He is going to be moving in, around, and through you. i'm excited to see how he uses you at school, through your non-profit, and in haiti. yay!

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  14. hey justin. great thoughts here. remember not to get too caught up in the idea of bringing up and talking to people about Jesus, but rather focusing on living like Jesus, which will spark questions in the people around you. praying for revival all around us.

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