Yesterday during my message I said, “the reason I got into this racket of being a pastor was to lead people into an encounter with Jesus.” That is the real reason I do what I do. It’s not about programs, it’s not about events, it’s about Jesus and helping people take their next step, or their first step, in following Jesus.
Well, if I’m honest I have to say it’s been a while since I’ve been able to help someone take their first step in following Jesus, but yesterday it happened. Shortly after I got done with the worship service a young man came up for prayer. He asked me to pray for him because he was having difficulty breathing. As he was talking I got a sense not to pray for his breathing, but instead ask him a few questions. Here’s how the exchange went…
Me: Have you ever put you faith in Jesus and decided to follow Him?
Young man: Nope.
Me: Is there anything preventing you from doing that?
Young man: Nope.
Me: Would you like to decide to follow Jesus today?
Young man: I would love that.
After that interaction we talked a bit more and prayed together. It was definitely the highlight of my day. Better than any song we sang. Better than any word I shared. My highlight was watching this young man give his life to Jesus. Oh, and by the way the breathing issues stopped after he did this. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
This is why I do what I do. I get excited, so pumped, when I see people give their lives fully to the One who gave himself fully for them. It’s moments like the one yesterday that fill me and give me the energy to keep going. I just hope a moment like yesterday happens more often.