Some rushed thoughts from Manchester

Another “post-modern, fashionable Christian” arrived in Manchester this afternoon. Hillsong United blaring through the earphones, back pocket Bible to show the lustful glances where I stand (I kid!) and the crown of thorns inked into my skin. Just what Manchester needs… #saidnooneever.

The City of Manchester.

503,127 people.

252,623 men.

250,504 women.

76,095 students.

Europe.

Asia.

South America.

Africa.

The continents that make up 90.3% of the city.

(The 2011 Census also notes that only 6% of the country goes to Church regularly.)

I find myself slap bang in the middle of it all. The hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Gardens.

BY GOD’S GRACE I am, in this moment, completely overwhelmed in the truth that God is God. I know that the Almighty God loves me. I am as aware as I've ever been that God “sits enthroned above the circle of the earth...” Yet I appear to Him as a grasshopper, I know that just as He gives His’ sovereign supervision to the sparrows, He cares even more for me. Because of Jesus, He cares for me (Isaiah 40, Matthew 10).

Hundreds of people are walking past me.

Not numbers from here or there.

People. 

People created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1).

As I remind myself of who’s I am, the sin in me puffs up my chest, ”I can save all of these people. I will win them for the Lord and make sure that they go to heaven!”

“Will you Josh? Go on then!”

He jabs at me. He knows that without Him allowing it, I can do nothing. I might be the most zealous man in the history of the world and without God ordaining something, I CAN DO NOTHING! Not even Jesus, the Son of God, could act on His own (John 5).

And so I pray a prayer that my lips know well.

Father God, thank you that You are sovereign. Thank you that I am not. Would you reveal Yourself to these people? Would you reveal Yourself to them through me?

I continue to pray, trusting that God will work in the hearts that He chooses.