Watching the calling come alive never.gets.old.
We had a full day of Swazi experiences – bible study and children’s ministry (50 kids!), pick ups, drop offs, bread crumbs scattered across the trunk of the van, driving all over kingdom come, too many people and not enough room in the seats, and revival services with dancing and praising tonight.
So much felt holy today: the quiet, foggy, misty morning. A metal pipe, a hand saw and the Swazi way to fix a pew. Fezo and Gogo Matza reading the Bible together quietly in the van. The way a child cups their hands for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
But today, I am especially struck by the holiness, the reverence of watching a believer step into where the Lord has placed them.
Meet John.
18 years old, a Pennsylvania transplant turned North Carolinian who loves to hunt and fish at Lake Matamuskeet, taught us about the elusive Pootoo bird, and reads his Bible like a man experiencing water for the first time – over and over again.
Tonight John preached for the first time, for the first time ever. It’s his first time in Eswatini. In fact, this was John’s first time in a plane.
John preached for the first time, but he told a story that’s been told countless times. The Lord called John to Eswatini and he faithfully preached the Gospel, that Good News, to us.
“Jesus didn’t come to bring the bread, he came to be the bread.” – John Jeffrey
Tonight, John taught that when Jesus came to feed the 5000, he wasn’t bringing food; he was revealing himself, the bread of life. And we are called to share. To offer that same bread of life to all.
Jesus called John alive; then he called him to Eswatini for this – to share the bread of life to the emaSwati. To help them taste and see that the Lord is good.
John shard tonight to our friends – but he also has the word to share for you and for me.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35 ESV
Will you receive that bread of life? Will you share?
Thank you John, for letting us witness your calling come alive. Thank you Jesus for calling us alive. You are the bread of life. Amen.
