Trusting and Living as a "Fool for Christ's Sake"

"I have one desire now - to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my enegry and strength into it." -Ed McCully.

"After all, a missionary is supposed to trust the Lord!" -Nate Saint

"I'm concerned about safety, but I dont let it keep me getting on with God's business. Every time I take off, I am ready to deliver up the life I owe to God." -Nate Saint.

These are a few quotes that have stood out to me while I, slowly but surely, continue to read Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot.

This week I started reading the book of Nehemiah. Although I've only read the first 4 chapters, its been such a good reminded of how great and awesome my God is.

While reading Through Gates of Splendor and Nehemiah, I've found 3 main points:
1) The Mission.
2) The Cost of the Mission.
3) God's soveregnity, grace, power, guidance and strength.

Nehemiah, who finds out that the walls of Jerusalem have been broken down and the gates have been destroyed by fire, and "as soon as he heard these words he sat down and wept and mourned for days, and he continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And he said, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Nehemiah 1:4-5). Nehemiah knows His calling and goes to the king (his master, Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer) and asked him to grant him a couple of requests: "send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it."(2:5) and "let letters be given me to the governors of providence Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah" (2:7). God's soveregnity and power displays in Nehemiah 2:8b, "And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me".
Nehemiah goes and gathers people to help rebuild Jerusalem and he told them of the hand of my God that had been upon him for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to him (2:18). The mission was not an easy one. There were hinderances, there were people against them. There was war. And they need to be cautious. The Word says that, "those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built" (4:17-18). The mission: rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and get the people right with God. The cost of the mission: everything, all, wote, fso, todo. The end: God always has His way. He promises are true. He is faithful.

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." (Nehemiah 4:14b).

"Our God will fight for us." (Nehemiah 4:20b).

McCully writes, "Here was a man who left everything as far as position was concerned to go do a job nobody else could handle. And because he went the whole remnant back in Jerusalem got right with the Lord. Obstacles and hindrances fell away and a great work was done."

Nehemiah knew the LORD's calling for his life, and He had His hand upon him at all times. Jesus makes a way, always! He always gets His way and all the glory.

Ed McCully writes to Jim Elliot, "Maybe He'll send me someplace where the name of Jesus Christ is unknown. Jim, I'm taking the Lord at His word, and I'm trusting Him to prove His Word." Thats what the Lord has been teaching me. To take Him at His Word. To cling to His Truth, to His promises. To not worry about my safety nor this life on earth, but to take Him at His Word.

McCully gives this illustration :
"It's kind of like putting all your eggs in one basket, but we've already put our trust in Him for salvation, so why not do it as far as our life is concerned? If there's nothing to this business of eternal life we might as well lose everything in one crack and throw our present life away with out life hereafter. But there is something to it, then everything else the Lord says must hold true lifewise."

If we have put out trust in Him for salvation, why do we struggle so much to trust Him concerning other areas in our lives?

Why do I struggle with past relationships/friendships in my life? Why do I let my emotions and thoughts hinder me? Do I not trust Him who is gracious and merciful towards me and give me His salvation, do I not trust that He is in control, He holds my heart, He is soveregn over all. Why do I struggle with uncertainies in my future? Do I not trust Him who knows and holds my future in His hands? Surrender. One simple word and action: Surrender. He has taught me to say, "it is well". He has taught me to trust Him. He has taught me to surrender.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, its no wonder that Paul writes, "We are fools for Christ's sake." Paul got it! He understood what it meant to truly, wholeheartedly, fully trust in the Lord with life. Neither pursecution, heartaches, pain, overwhelmness (if thats even a word), heck, maybe even love-life problems (who knows), not even death hindered him from the Mission. Mungu had taught him to trust in Him.

I've been living here in Kenya for about 2 months now, and its been hard, I'm not gonna lie. I'm finally used to the lifestyle here in Africa. I'm used to not having running water at times. Not having electricity at times. Never having a warm shower. Having to wash my hair in a bucket. Not having full body showers for days. Not eating good food. Walking all over the place. Having to hand wash clothes and praying that it won't rain so they could air-dry. Riding on a little matatoo (public transportation) packed with people, even to the point of having to sit on top of eachother. Always being busy and not having much time to be still and spend hours with the Lord. I have learned to be content. I have learned to love it. If the cost of being here in Kenya to love on these kids, to witness to the people here, is being uncomfortable and having to trust in the Lord at all times, then so be it. If I lose my life while serving Him, I have learned to trust Him, dying to self and picking up my cross. Following Jesus' step is no easy matter, but He always has His way. He is faithful. He sanctifies. He will be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted on the earth. He will be lifted high in my life.


The beautiful hymn Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus comes to mind and comforts me:
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.