Behold!

I have been in the UK for almost a week now, and it has been so good and sweet to see what the Lord is already doing in this summer. I arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland this past Tuesday, along with 20 other interns who will be placed in churches throughout the UK.

We spent four days in Edinburgh, training and preparing at St. Columbus church for the next 6 weeks in our assigned churches. It was a time where we spent getting to know one another, seeing why each person decided on this internship and what God was doing in each person’s life. All the interns were placed in groups, according to their specific location. Within my group, Manchester, there are a total of five interns. Each of our groups were able to experience different aspects of growth. We would have opportunities to talk with one another, sharing each one’s anticipations and fears for the summer.

One of the days in Edinburgh, my group had the opportunity to participate in outreach. A man named, Paul had started evangelistic efforts in which tables would be set up in the streets of Edinburgh, offering “hot drinks” and Christian literature for free. This invited people passing by to engage in conversation, which would hopefully lead to sharing the gospel.

I was extremely humbled as I engaged with people who came to the table. Many were Scots, while others were tourists from all over the world visiting the city. With each conversation I had, I was reminded that salvation was not through anything I did. I could not bring these people to faith, I was simply acting as a vessel. The reality was that God is the only one who can prompt their hearts and point them to the saving knowledge of his grace. It reminds me of the passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul says in verses 6 and 7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

What a comforting and beautiful reminder that we are not in control! We are simply called to glorify the Lord in reverence and obedience to him. A truth I am wanting to engage with more closely this summer is the idea that God’s plan is perfect. The Lord is sovereign and he is in control over every aspect of my life. Therefore, I can take comfort in knowing that I do not have to put these unrealistic expectations upon myself, but simply trust the Lord.

The time spent passing out “hot drinks” was just a fraction of what we did during those four days in Edinburgh. We had the opportunity to listen to multiple speakers on topics involving culture, missions, and what it means to embrace the Lord wholeheartedly. During our time at St. Columbus, we had the mornings full of prayer and devotion.

While we were encouraged, we were also brought to the painful reality that our salvation was bought with a price. Something I will take with me through this summer is the image of Christ’s crucifixion as prophesied in Isaiah 52 and 53 (I would encourage you to go back and read through this passage). Jesus’ death on the cross was an unimaginably painful death. It was seen as one of the most horrific means of torturing (and ultimately killing) a person. But, even though we do not fully understand, Christ’s death on the cross was the best possible means to accomplish the highest end.

This is the gospel: Jesus, being fully God and fully man, came down to earth to walk among us and lived a perfect life. He was wrongfully accused, mocked, beaten and spread out on a cross. He willingly hung on the cross, struggling for each breath, because of his love for us. He died on the cross so that we might have a relationship with him. But, that was not the end. He was buried, and when all hope seemed lost, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. He went on to reveal himself to Mary Magdalene, the disciples and then to hundreds of witnesses. Jesus ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father, where he will prepare a place for all who believe in him. For those who believe in Christ and repent of the wrong they have done against God, they will be saved.

This is what I have to remind myself of daily. I must repeat the truth of the gospel, the sacrifice that Jesus paid for me. When we are able to understand the shear gravity of the gospel, this leads us to repentance and ultimately, action out of obedience to the Lord.