I've never been excellent at sharing my faith with people (speaking of that whole Great Commission thing). At least with words anyhow. Lately, however, God has been sharing His heart for people with me. As I have hardly anything in common with my apartment neighbors, I've had the desire to get to know them. I feel like this desire is leading to something spectacular.
All this started a couple weeks ago. Amidst the stress of barely keeping up on the school work load of the week, I found my heart and tongue fixed on God as a means of simply making it through the week. Sleep was difficult, not only in my attempt to get my work in on time, but also because of the booming bass the residents of the apartment building. The week I happen to be the busiest so far this semester happens to also be the week that every night is a party night for those I live by. For some reason, I didn't mind. I passed them on my way going out or coming in and gave them the 'hey, how's it going?' or got their's all the same with no bitterness or any similar feeling tied to it. Instead I only yearned for something on a deeper level. After all, they seem like nice enough people.
I ended that week with some worship Friday night, and, let me tell you, it was good. The highlight of the night was some prayer I had with a friend. After praying with me for only a little bit he had some insight on what I was sort of going through and shared with me what I coming for me.
I don't want to get in the mindset of one spiritual gift being more important than another. That would be an unhealthy way of thinking. Healing, tongues, giving, exhortation, whatever, the list goes on, and idolizing the gifts instead of the Giver would indeed be missing the mark. But all my heart has been set on is tree things: loving those around me, knowing/understanding what they are going through, and loving them even more. Was this not the definition of Jesus? He loved, He came and felt, and continued to love.
