Obedience. The Most Pleasant Discomfort

Lately I have been in a place where I have been uncomfortable. It hasn't been because of the sleepless nights, the anxiety of a looming decision, or even the most recent sickness I have had. It is totally related to the obedience that God has called me to. Now this discomfort is perceived discomfort. It is my mind telling me that if I choose obedience to the Father, I will let down people, I will not be successful, I will fail.

These are all bold faced lies. But they are ones that are associated with stepping out in faith and being obedient to what God has for you. God knows that when He calls us up to the next level, that we will have an adverse reaction. The reason being is that we get comfortable in our lives. We get so used to living, thinking, feeling a certain way that when He wants us to change our world gets rocked.

The act of obedience is the most uncomfortable thing, but the result of obedience is the most pleasant thing. To be obedient to God is to "die to our flesh" daily. That means to not continue on the destructive path that we naturally want to go on, but in a supernatural way. When we naturally want to talk bad about someone, we choose not to. When we naturally want to look at someone lustfully, we choose not to. When we naturally want to cheat on our taxes, we choose not to. When we naturally want to choose the easy choice but God is telling us differently, we choose His choice.

Now its not easy, but through God's grace, love, and mercy we can and will do it. We must be willing to be uncomfortable. Because in that discomfort we experience growth. We experience God. And that is the most pleasant discomfort one could ever have.

Conversation with a homeless man

Last Friday during my weekly trip to Norfolk to invite people to church I went to connect with David the homeless man that I have been reaching out to the past couple of weeks. We found him sitting at his usual spot outside the local indie theater. He seemed to be asleep. We approached him and called his name so that we wouldn’t startle him. He stirred for a bit and then finally came to. I asked him how he was and it seemed as if he had to think for a second who I was. He then remembered. I gave him a bag full of underwear that he had asked for and then asked him if I could take him to lunch. He was quite hesitant, and then I noticed a 40oz bottle of Steel Reserve. I immediately thought about the cash that I had given to him the week before. I began to beat myself up about it. But then I just thought, “I shouldn’t be upset about it. He is a grown man.” My heart still hurt, but I couldn’t hold onto whether it was my money that purchased the beverage. Then I got convicted. It wasn’t my money. I then proceeded to invite him to lunch. He declined. So I told him that I would return.

I went to the local grocery store and bought him some food and then took it to him about an hour later. His mood had changed and he received the food very willingly. I then talked to him for a few moments and told him that I would see him next week.

Nothing miraculous happened. He didn’t accept Christ into his heart. If anything, he distanced himself more. He made it more difficult to speak to him. I still fed him and prayed for him. I still reached out to him. That is all that I could do.

This week David was no where to be found. Not sure where he was at, hopefully he is okay. I will not give up trying to reach out to him. I just pray that God will continue to use me and grow me.

Conversation with a homeless man

Last week I felt prompted to stop and buy lunch for one of the homeless men that I see every week when I go to Norfolk. Not out of a self righteous duty, but rather out of a spiritual nudge that I had received. I scoured the streets looking for one man in particular. David was his name. It always seems that God sends me to people whom I have things in common with. Being that my name is Jonathan and in the Bible David and Jonathan were best friends. My brother and father's name is David. There are just a lot of David's that I know.

Anyway, So I approached David and asked him if I could buy him lunch. He quickly obliged my request. After I bought him his lunch for him, instead of high tailing it out of there after I had done my good deed I just sat there with him and began to talk. I asked him questions about his life. I found out that he was raised in Virgina. His father was military. He played sports, his favorite being football. He was a receiver but was told that he was too small to play. I asked him how he became homeless. He told me that he couldn't work anymore because of an injury. An injury that he never thought could happen to him. I just patiently sat there as he slowly picked at his food.

Then religion came into the discussion. After I revealed to him that I was a pastor, he emphatically stated how he was "down with the Lord", "most of the time". That last part stuck out to me. I asked him why he felt that way. He then proceeded to open up and tell me how he feels that the way humanity treats itself is a direct reflection of God. He began to almost yell as if speaking to someone else about why they couldn't spare more than a dollar to help. My heart began to hurt. How many times was I that person that walked by not willing to spare some change or even say hi? How if I being a Christ follower could I just simply be okay with not helping in anyway? Was my un-involvement a direct reflection of the loving and giving God I serve? I hope not.

Jesus talks about this and how we are to respond in the face of poverty in Matthew 25:35-40-

“When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, ³⁶and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me." ³⁷Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? ³⁸When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear ³⁹or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" ⁴⁰The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”

I told David that I wanted to meet him every week and buy him lunch and try to bless him anyway that I can. Of course he said yes. Probably with skepticism, but I really want to be there to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Through this I might be able to bring back one of Jesus' lost sheep. This isn't a project, but rather it is a prompting that I must obey.

I will continue to update you on my conversations with a homeless man. May it open your heart as it will mine.