I wrote this recently as a kind of reflective devotional for the Japan Partnership meeting in Charlotesville, VA.
When I came to Troas to preach
the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my
spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took
leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
But
thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and
through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are
the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who
are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance
from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so
many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God,
in the sight of God we speak in Christ. - 2
Corinthians 2:12-17 (ESV)
When
was the last time your spirit was not at rest or you were with someone whose
spirit was not at rest?
On
September 10, there was a huge flood caused by the Kanugawa river leaving many
people to have to sleep in local gyms or on the 2nd floor of their small two
story homes because of water damage. This past Thursday I was able to do relief
work with a small group. in Jousou City, which is northeast of us. It's
not the pristine streets and brilliantly lit lights of downtown modern
Tokyo. and these It was a very sunny and windy day. In the homes we
visited there was 1.5 meters or about 5 feet of water damage that ruined a lot
of their items inside on the first floor and outside in their sheds and storage
rooms. We were able to help two homes. The first was the home of an 80-year old
man nagashima san. He told us about He his three kids one daughter who lives at
home and two who live in Tokyo.
The
second was of an elderly lady nagagawa san who appeared to be a widow. We were
connected to them through local church connections. Her futons smelled like
month old river water, basically sewage. We hauled out the water damaged
personal belongings of family keepsakes including old photographs and family
documents and put them in our truck and hauled them to the city dump. By the
way when you go to that city dump, Where we found mountains of such items.
We
were able to connect in small ways with the people's homes we visited
especially with the man nagashima San. They expressed tremendous
gratitude that we came. We were reminded of their need for Christ as the lady
didn't want us to throw away we saw any of her Buddhas or boddhisatva icons and
paintings. We sat and had coffee on newspaper with nagashima next to his
butsudan, or Japanese Buddhist family altar. According to
statistics today, 90% of rural area homes have these while 60% do in urban
areas. This is evidence why I believe that the religion of supposedly
secular Japan is really "ancestor veneration" more than
anything else.
One
man with us was visiting from my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama a member of
OMPC. He is a man of larger build who wore a shirt that said Godzilla on it.
Nagashima San was so amused by this we laughed as he would offer Godzilla extra
sandwiches and space for him trying to make him comfortable.
He
told us when we were leaving who he is so happy we same but sad. He started
crying and this was so moving also for us. When I think about this man in need
of Jesus I want him to know he is left with more than his circumstances, the
world not as it should be. His tears expressed a lining for the world to be as
it should be. We told him about the church and that we are Christians. We
prayed with he and his wife. Elderly people like them in Japan are so
vulnerable and we can build relationships with them that they might know God's
sufficiency who puts out spirits at rest.
Story
of Shin Hirohashi- that's good because it reminds you of your need for God's
sufficient grace.
In Japan as
Christians we can often feel like The work is proceeding at a glacial pace
around old idols and it takes a lot of time to see things happen slug giving
through water damage like fallen culture. I can easily find my spirit not at
rest when I feel like results are slow in learning Japanese and
ministry. Maybe We can relate to the words of a u2 song "you're stuck in
a. Moment and you can't get out of it." we struggle with a sense of defeat
and need to be reminded of whose side we are on. we are like those
captured in a parade under a general who was won a. Great battle we share
because of the victorious work of Christ.
Do
you know a passage of scripture that you could call a life verse?
Since
I've been in Japan one my life verses are 2 Corinthians 2:12-17.
2
Corinthians in several places gives the contrast where Paul gives us help when
we are stuck in a moment and we cant get out of it. Everyone looks to something
or someone to be enough for them- we are all on a sufficiency search. We are
given encouraging truth to meet our discouraged feelings. In 2 cor paul reminds
us repeatedly of our sufficiency in God each and every moment in life.
2:16 who is sufficient for these things? 3:5 not that we are sufficient in
ourselves 12:9 my grace is sufficient for you."
The
apostle tells us that even though a door was open for him in the Lord in Troas
but his spirit was not at rest because he missed his good brother Titus. He was
disappointed by that and left alone for Macedonia. He had to keep going when
his spirit was not at rest. He had perspective we need. He didn't super
spiritualize his struggle.
But
Paul's perspective gives us encouragement so that our spirits will be at rest.
It's about going back focusing on him and his sufficiency. It's focusing on the
fact that the work is his and not our work. Paul says he leads us and makes us
have a beautiful smell.
We
can have gratitude to God, because the battle has been won. In Ancient Rome
when they won a victory the general would lead the captives. He is the
sovereign king who has won the battle with sin and death through the cross of
Jesus. We have been captured by him. because of what he does not what we do. he
leads us In Christ always.
He
leads us in Christ always even when we don't feel it. As someone said,
"More important than our experience of Christ is the Christ of our
experience". We need to go back to what is true constantly so we are left
with more than our circumstances. We are left with him always with us and his
truth.
And
he has won is winning and will win in His story of redemption. He also spreads
the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere . He makes us smell like Jesus
even though we smell like everyone else around us or month old river water many
times as sinners ourselves . We are by no means sufficient to do the work he's
called us to do. As we are commissioned to enter into the story of Japan,
He is sufficient and so is his grace!
Yesterday
in my personal study of god's word I was assigned this reading plan.
「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.」
Matthew
11:28-29 ESV
Japan needs
to know The Jesus who alone can give the rest their hearts are looking for.
When our spirits are not at rest let us return to the God of rest. His
sufficient grace leads us to rest because he is in control and he is enough for
us.
Up
Hill
Poem
about rest journey concern for a friend and a need for a good bed
Uphill
by Christina Rossetti
Does
the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will
the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.
But
is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May
not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.
Shall
I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then
must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.
Shall
I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will
there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.
May Japan know
the God who is sufficient for us and gives our hearts rest.
By
the way, the Japanese government
has asked for 1000 volunteers per day but there are only about 500. The
relief work may continue until the spring. Many people from Jousou City are
living in a local gymnasium and others who are in their homes have to live on
the second floor.
If
you are interested in sending a short team to Japan this is a great
and urgent need to serve in Japan for at least the next six months.
If I am able to meet up with you I'll are you out for the best ramen you've
ever tasted at ippudo restaurant. Even if you can't come this time chances are
there will be more needs like this in Japan because t is a natural
disaster culture.
Even
though we left smelling like month old river water I want to invite you to come
and smell like Jesus to the people of Japan who so desperately need
to know his beautiful scent.
