Responding to Impulses

This morning at HillSong Church, the sermon is about Zacchaeus. He's the tax collector from Jericho we meet in Luke 19. Everyone in town hates him, but when Jesus come to Jericho, he invites himself to Zacchaeus' house for lunch. (Yes, I said, Jesus invites himself for lunch. Jesus can get away with that sort of thing.)

Everyone grumbles that Jesus is eating with a "sinner." But Jesus claims that's why he came - "to seek out and save the lost." What happens to this lost person Jesus has saved? He has a holy impulse and he gives into it and decides on the spot to divest himself of 1/2 of all he owns and to give the proceeds to the poor.

Not everyone gets that impulse! The Holy Spirit moves in different people in different ways. Some people are called to give a lot of money. In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, we've seen a lot of Christians, American doctors and nurses, give in to those Holy impulses. They are giving up a week of time (or in some cases more) to go in the name of Christ and save lives.

I hear the same thing over and over. I heard it from a young nurse who had never traveled outside the US. I heard it from an experienced physician who has traveled extensively and practiced medicine in many different contexts. Apprehension! Uncertainty! Fear! What am I getting myself into??? These professionals are the picture of confidence and knowledge in their practices here in the US, but when they are thrust into the chaos that is post-quakes Haiti, they are venturing onto unknown ground.

So, why do it?

In spite of the myriad concerns, each one I talk to says the same thing. They could do no other. These are people who are feeling deep stirrings inside them, the swirl of the Holy Spirit. And, they go.

Now, reading this, you might not be a physician or someone uniquely qualified to help Haiti now. So, what can you do? Try this. Call the NC Baptist board in Cary (http://bscnc.org/) and get in touch with Baptist Men, tell them you want to meet the next medical mission going to Haiti at the airport before the team leaves. You want to pray with the team before they get on their flight. It will require you to get up at about 4:45AM on Friday so you can go and be there and meet the team. But set your alarm clock and do it. Go, meet these missionaries who are feeling that impulse. See the fire of the Holy Spirit flickering in their fearful eyes. Pray for them as they go and you too will be part of the story.