The Next Billy Graham Might Be Drunk Right Now is MUST read, yet thankfully a short read, and a powerful reminder for all of us. Yesterday, in the post Neighbor 1: Hurting, we were reminded that anyone who hurting is our neighbor. Today’s read also reminds us that this same hurting person could be the next Billy Graham, Paul, or CS Lewis or just someone that is evangelizing our children in the future. All the more reason to make time for the hurting people in our lives.
This reminds me of the importance of praying the “other” prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. Of course, He taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer. But, in Luke 10 He also taught us to pray to the “Lord of the harvest”…
2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
At this time, there weren’t many Jesus Followers at all. So, where would the workers come from? That’s right…the Harvest! So, we are called to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to raise up workers….from the harvest. Let’s pray that kind of prayer!!! The author, Russell Moore, leaves us with…
And, be kind to that atheist in front of you on the highway, the one who just shot you an obscene gesture. He might be the one who evangelizes your grandchildren.
In addition, as we find ourselves frustrated with the “church”, we also need to be praying for her. And as one commenter to Moore’s post, Lucy Newnes, stated….
Be kind to that “Christian” sitting in the pew, the one who just slandered the Pastor, and held back his tithing. He might someday be the next Paul, or Billy Graham, or Charles Colson who would evangelize your grandchildren. With God, nothing is impossible. Focus on the Lord and be FAT – Faithful, Available & Teachable.
Lord Jesus, I praise your name! You are awesome! Thanks for teaching us how to pray and modeling it for us. I, humbly, come to you as one whose life was once swirling the drain…and you lifted me up out of it. Thank you for not only saving me from that life, but thanks for giving me the opportunity to glorify your name and serve in your name. Your Word says that the “harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few.” Today, I come to you praying on behalf of the people who don’t know you. Lift them up out of the swirl. Draw them to you. Use us. Use me. May we, filled with your Spirit, do our jobs of planting and watering, and when appropriate…harvest, too. Prepare us to disciple others…disciple making disciples. In the Lord of the Harvest’s name I pray. Amen.
Into The Neighborhood 