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Feb 10
2010
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A Growing Heart for the Inner CityPosted by Jae in Untagged |
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I co-manage a convenience store.
It was a dream.
And I achieved it.
(insert sarcastic tone here)
But I love it. It brings me to a world and culture I always try to drive away from -
South Central Los Angeles.
As they say, don't wanna drive by where they have a lot of drive-by's.
And I have a heart now, which I am grateful for, for the inner city.
The poor, the sick, the drugged, the hurt.
However, sometimes, I have to catch myself thinking "How will this make me a better man?
How will I serve God and serve these people to make me feel better about myself? To gain for myself?"
Jeremiah prayed and went into the city of Babylon.
Other Israelites camped outside of the walls, desiring to remain clean.
Jeremiah had a heart for the city, and interceded for them.
He became the negotiator to God's Wrath, and the vessel of God's Good Fortune.
Am I like the other Israelites camped outside the walls of the inner city,
deathly afraid of prostitutes, gangs, and the homeless?
Am I too rich, too privileged to reach out my arm, open my hand, and grab on to
another soul that needs my help, my prayers, my care?
Am I too disillusioned to consider that loving God means to obey him, and to
heal the sick because there is no sense in healing the healthy?
Have I become a servant leader that has minimized his willingness to truly serve,
but lead himself into a position of attention, power, and prestige?
Am I a servant of God, or have I become a slave to this world?
The Lord says, "I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them."
(Jeremiah 33:26)
How will I, now knowing this,
answer his call?
It was a dream.
And I achieved it.
(insert sarcastic tone here)
But I love it. It brings me to a world and culture I always try to drive away from -
South Central Los Angeles.
As they say, don't wanna drive by where they have a lot of drive-by's.
And I have a heart now, which I am grateful for, for the inner city.
The poor, the sick, the drugged, the hurt.
However, sometimes, I have to catch myself thinking "How will this make me a better man?
How will I serve God and serve these people to make me feel better about myself? To gain for myself?"
Jeremiah prayed and went into the city of Babylon.
Other Israelites camped outside of the walls, desiring to remain clean.
Jeremiah had a heart for the city, and interceded for them.
He became the negotiator to God's Wrath, and the vessel of God's Good Fortune.
Am I like the other Israelites camped outside the walls of the inner city,
deathly afraid of prostitutes, gangs, and the homeless?
Am I too rich, too privileged to reach out my arm, open my hand, and grab on to
another soul that needs my help, my prayers, my care?
Am I too disillusioned to consider that loving God means to obey him, and to
heal the sick because there is no sense in healing the healthy?
Have I become a servant leader that has minimized his willingness to truly serve,
but lead himself into a position of attention, power, and prestige?
Am I a servant of God, or have I become a slave to this world?
The Lord says, "I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them."
(Jeremiah 33:26)
How will I, now knowing this,
answer his call?
