Friend of Sinners

This post is going to be a bit different I suppose. This weeks theme is "World Vision" and we have been and will be talking about sharing the gospel with people all over the world. Last night, we split into groups representing various nations of the world and I was part of the tribal group. There were groups from America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and several others I can't quite remember but each group had different rules. Our rules were that we had to come up with our own culture and had to keep outsiders our until they figured out our cultures. Very long story short, America had a lot of resources and was spoiled and they ended up "freeing" other nations and bringing them food which represented the gospel. Each nation's rules corresponded to the spiritual climate there. America for example, had lots of food and the like while we had no food until other nations found us and figured out our culture. It was a very emotional experience for a lot of people. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for me and this really frustrates me because I do not have a heart for the nations. 

This is something that I have faced before at IndyCC and it frustrated me there too but God gave me another passion there for adoption. Anyway, I don't like that I don't have a heart for the nations because Christ does. So, I've been thinking about it a lot in the past 24 hours and as I was having my date night with Jesus, a Casting Crowns song came on that really defined the desire of my heart. You may know it but the song is called "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" and the chorus is this:

"Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours"

This really caught my attention because my heart is not broken for the lost people of nations, including my own nation. I need God to open my eyes to the world and be led by mercy. I want to have a desire and a love for the lost and I want to want to reach with open arms and doors to those who need Jesus so desperately. I really need to have my heart broken for the things that break God's heart, especially in the area of lost people and nations. I really want to have this broken heart but I just don't feel it and it frustrates me. That's all for this post, I just wanted to show how God can show us what to pray for when we aren't even looking for it. If you could pray that God would really break my heart for the lost, I would really appreciate it.

God Bless and Go Blue!

Tedd Sheets Jr.