It’s worth it.
“Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home’. Jesus said to him, ‘No one who put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62.
“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborer’s into his harvest” Luke 10:2.
It’s WORTH it.
Today, my brother Noah landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, after an 11-month USA Deployment in Iraq. My sister, Kaila, drove down from Lynchburg to surprise him at the airport with the rest of my family. I’m celebrating from Elbasan, Albania, which is six hours ahead in time and 5166 miles across the world. I knew this day would come. In April, we hugged goodbye knowing that his deployment and my Race would overlap and we were essentially saying goodbye for 15 months. After I launched on the race, it was comforting to check Life360 and see his pin on the same side of the world as mine. Now, he’s home in Charlotte and I am celebrating his homecoming through technology.
This morning, the team and I served at A2B organization, mostly playing dominoes with elderly folks and dancing traditional Albanian dances. It was a privilege to bring the joy and hope of Jesus to them. On my way home from ministry, I began to walk in one direction, when all of a sudden I found myself turning around to walk a different route home that goes through a market. I was walking at a Kingdom pace, ready to be interrupted and not rushing the journey home. I walked next to a stand that displayed bracelets, and the man selling them, Donald, told me they have healing properties. Through the Holy Spirit, I quickly realized this was an opportunity to talk about Jesus, so I asked, “Do you really believe these bracelets can heal the sick?” He shared his beliefs, and I told him about Jesus, my healer! I learned that he is Muslim, and we got to have a 15–20-minute conversation about the Gospel and Islam. Praise the Lord! I walked away grateful for the conversation but saddened that he doesn’t yet believe the Truth.
I spent this afternoon sitting with the Lord and bringing my heart to Him. I believe it’s the Father’s pleasure to sit with us as we grieve and wonder and process. Today I’m reminded about the cost of following Jesus. And that it’s worth it. The big things and the little things are still worth missing if it means walking in obedience and following my Savior wherever he leads. Missing my brother’s homecoming is worth it. Missing out on running a half-marathon with my mom and sister is worth it. 11-months without Jimmy John’s is worth it. Missing weddings is worth it. Transitions and unfamiliarity are worth it. Denying myself, taking up my cross, and following Jesus is worth it. It’s hard, but IT IS WORTH IT. Because he died for me. Because he deserves everything I have. I don’t always see that it’s worth it and I don’t always make the most of every opportunity, but the sovereign and loving God is moving through me in my weakness. I mean, come on…a Muslim man heard the good news of Jesus today because I’m here and walking in obedience. IT IS WORTH IT. Everything I had I count as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and making Him known. It’s worth it.
Let’s pray for more laborers to put their hands to the plow and serve the Lord of the Harvest. It’s worth it.
