The Heart of Christ from the Pew: Feature 1
by Sarah Young
S. visited the reservation from a distant city last year, planning to share the Gospel. He saw D. outside and stopped to talk. D. had been a believer for about a year, and they rejoiced in the Gospel together. They exchanged phone numbers and stayed in touch.
This month, S. called and invited D. to come to the city where he could use D.’s help in ministering to a young native man in jail. D. agreed and sent a message to our church members: “I will be going on a mission trip this Saturday. Will everyone please pray for me?” We prayed. He went. When D. reached the city and met with his friend, S. told him the name of the incarcerated man. D. discovered that it was his brother.
When D. shared this testimony at our church the next day, the whole church rejoiced at God’s timing and plan, and we continue to pray for D. as he tries to minister to his brother and family.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” When I watch my fellow believers minister to non-believing family members, often riding the roller-coaster of addiction beside their loved ones, I know what Jesus meant by heavy laden. Their burdens are so heavy. However, when we all pray for one another, when we are gentle and lowly, encouraging one another and bearing one another’s burdens, then we see into the heart of Christ.
The amazing thing is that He brings us rest right in the middle of the burden because He is here shouldering it beside us. Every resource within the heart of Christ is available to us because He is so near. All we had to do was come to Him.