I feel like I finally understand Paul, why he longed for Heaven... He was so far from home.
He traveled from place to place and never settled. When he left a place, he longed so deeply for the people he loved in that church. These were people he lived with, ate with, laughed with. He cared for their health, he knew their families, he prayed constantly for them. He made plans to visit, wrote them letters, and sent back representatives to encourage, correct, and bless these faraway brothers and sisters. (2 Tim. 1:1-5)
To be an apostle is to live bleeding, to love with a broken heart. No earthly city can ever be our home again. Like a candle, our life is snuffed out in a breath. Where will we shine?
We--as apostles--need to be okay with hurting, and never block out God, our love, or passions just because we miss and love so deeply. Instead, we press on, clinging to our only true hope: the future, where we will be with our Savior forever. No more goodbyes... (Phillip. 1:21-26)
...but wait, what about the rest? Shall we not strive to bring as many with us as we can? Are they not worth it? This us what kept Paul going, boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus even through persecution.
How could we possibly say we love these people if we failed to tell them the truth about love? Yet the thought of countless more faces keeps us pressing on. Like Paul...
Through trial. Through pain. Through loneliness and abandonment. Through homesickness and longing. Striving for the hope that is waiting for us... All because of Jesus Christ.
We press on. We leave our comfort. Because of love. (Acts 26:28-29)
Hello lesliegoyer. First let me give you best wishes of this New year. Wish you a very blessed, spiritfilled, prosprous and Christ centered New year. So good to know you thorugh your profile on the blogger. I am also glad to stop by your blog "The Road to Maturity" and the post on it "The Quest for Home". It is indeed a story of a life surrendered life which is lived for others inspite of his quest for Home. Wonderful sharing and thank you for blessing me through your sharing. Well I would like to share with you about an opportunity for you to come to Mumbai, India on a short / long term missions trip to work with us in the slums of Mumbai among poorest of poor sharing the good news of Jesus and giving them new hope, purpose and life. I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 34yrs in this great city of Mumai a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reachout to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young people like you to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to work with during your summer vacation. we would love to have you come to Mumbai with your friends to work with us. I looking forward to hear from you very soon. My email id is : dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderful post. It brings up so much. I want desperately to be with Christ; healed of all my sickness and pain and sin but God has chosen to keep me here thus far. I pray for death but then I pray for life because I long to pray for those who are lost and bring more and more into God's kingdom through these prayers. That's the only reason I live so I pray that God blesses my prayers for the salvation of others...oh but how I long to be away from this world, curled up in His lap.