We are all on a journey...

I was humbled and challenged by a story I heard the other day.

It was about a youth pastor who was locking up the church after a youth meeting, when he saw a drunken man sitting out the front. The youth pastor’s immediate reaction was to ask the man to leave, as he was worried for the safety of the youth who were still hanging around. But then Jesus entered the picture…

The drunken man looked the youth pastor in the eyes and began to bless him in Jesus name and encourage him to ‘never stop doing what you’re doing for God.’

You see, what the youth pastor hadn’t realised was that this man was saved by grace and had his own personal relationship with Jesus. The drunken man then shared of how before he encountered Jesus he was a drug addict, who wouldn’t have been able to hold a conversation, as his whole body was in obedience to his addiction. But Jesus had completely freed him off that addiction!

This story really spoke to me and reminded me that… We are all on a journey and none of our journeys look the same.

This drunken man had his life radically transformed by the love of Jesus! Sure, he wasn’t sober and he was still addicted to alcohol. But Jesus had healed him of his previous drug addiction, making it possible for him to have this conversation and proclaim God’s word wherever he goes.

It reminded me of a man who attended the Salvation Army church and outreach centre I worked in last year. For privacy, we shall call him *Jonno.

*Jonno was a homeless, alcoholic and with one glance of him, most of you (like I did myself) would have quickly walked past him- nervous, perhaps even scared of him. But the Lord taught me something through *Jonno.

One day I was on my way home when I bumped into *Jonno. I smiled at him and as I was about to pass by quickly, he started to preach the gospel.

He started declaring that the kingdom of heaven is here… and that the love of Jesus is real. Jesus was using this man to proclaim his truth to Melbourne city!

So on regular occasions I would walk past *Jonno on the streets and see him drunk, yet still mumbling truths about who Jesus is and what he has done for him.

I had the privilege of seeing *Jonno sober for a couple of weeks. The change was radical and he claimed it to be the work of Jesus. However *Jonno is still homeless and battling his alcohol addiction again. But he is on a journey! His own, intimate, personal journey with Jesus! So who are we to judge?

Help us to see with your eyes Jesus,

Help us to love with your heart Father,

Holy Spirit rid us of all judgement, so that we may see your face and hear your voice in the world around us!

Amen!