Today was the eleventh IDignity of 2012 and the organization is nearing finishing off over four years of serving the greater Orlando homeless and underprivileged. The concept is simply: supply the means to get identification to those who cannot get it on their own. This is one of the most practical and least “hairball schemes” I’ve ever seen. Without ID, you cannot work, cash checks, open accounts, travel, or even sometimes sleep under shelter. On top of that, the way the system is set up, it does not allow you to obtain such documents as a birth certificate without an ID but to get an ID you must have a birth certificate. This can make things tricky and that’s why IDignity exists.

Today I volunteered for this chaotic experience and although it was slower than most months, I still managed to become overwhelmed at the great need that is present in our city of Orlando. A single event has about 250 clients coming through the doors with about 75 volunteers working in various areas and costs about $15,000 to put it on. The organization works strictly by donation and as announced today, is receiving the “Manhattan Institute Social Entrepreneurship” award which will hopefully generate more funding and expand it’s level of influence in the nation.

IDignity was started by a few churches coming together to meet the need in downtown Orlando and since then, has expanded to surrounding cities. I am so incredibly encouraged at the thought that we get to link arms with such community-minded churches as we plant here. I spoke with a few different fellow volunteers this morning including Thomas who owns a carpentry shop around the block and likes to skateboard in his free time. He had a way of speaking with people and connecting with their stories like I’ve never seen before. I was able to visit his shop afterwards and he shared HIS story with me. At the age of eighteen, he was in a major car accident and broke his neck. Over many months of therapy he finally was able to walk again but his right side regained feeling before his left did which left him a major limp (which he says has gotten dramatically better) and the inability to turn his head to the right.

Later he was sitting in a service with Bethel Church pastor, Bill Johnson preaching when the pastor stopped and asked if anyone had been in a car accident that left them seriously injured to stand. Thomas stood and people laid hands on him. He says in that moment God healed his neck and that he has never had any pain again.

What spoke to me most was Thomas’ response to his healing. He said, “I could not believe the incredible mercy that God had shown me.” I was almost brought to tears at Thomas’ reminder that our lives are in the mercy of God’s hand. Every waking day is a gift; a gracious gift from our heavenly Father. Thomas did not count himself worthy of such a gift but even though God did not have to heal his crippled body, He did.

Even though God did not have to redeem a wicked, rebellious people for Himself and grant them eternal life through His son, He did. “[1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1a)

Even though Jesus did not have to consider himself nothing in order to bear the cross, He did.  “[6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

Thank You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for saving sinners.

Last week was our first week in our new… first series ever as a church. There’s some neat benefits of being a part of a church movement and one of those is that we all go through the same book of the Bible together. I love the spirit of unity that this brings and how we can share the good things that God is doing through His word in our different congregations. This current series is the book of “Nehemiah: a church for the city, nations, and generations.” We feel as though this is a very timely book to be walking through. If you’ve never read it, please do! Here’s a couple quick things that we pulled out of chapter one:

God’s Heart
The story starts with Nehemiah receiving word from his brother about the destruction of Jerusalem. This was such disturbing news that it says Nehemiah “wept and mourned for days.” Not only that, but he fasted and prayed continually to God! The obvious question is “is your heart broken for your city?” The not so obvious question is “why is Nehemiah’s heart broken?” The reason for the first is the answer for the second. It’s because God’s heart is broken over it. We see throughout the story of Nehemiah and the book before it, Ezra, and all throughout the Bible, God moves upon the hearts of individuals to do His work. The reason Nehemiah’s heart is so crushed by the news of his city is because God moved upon him to be so. I pray that God would give me a greater degree of brokenness for my city. That He would move me to weep when I think of the brokenness that walks around on my broken streets and hides behind broken apartment buildings to hide their broken hearts and broken smiles.

God is Faithful Even When We’re Not
An easy thing to say but not to remember, especially in moments like Nehemiah’s. But we can learn a few things in his prayer that He prays.

1. Nehemiah approaches God on what He’s already promised to do. He could have just complained and wined about how terrible things were but instead, he approached God boldly because He knew that God is faithful regardless of circumstance. He even regards God as, “God who KEEPS covenant.” God’s promise was to restore this city and even though hope as glim, Nehemiah’s faith in a “Great and awesome God” outweighed hid doubt. Now think of the new covenant. Think of the promises of God today. Think of 1John 1:9 that tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Do you approach God based upon what He has promised to do through His Son, Jesus? Do you approach Him, believing that you are an adopted son or daughter of the Most High and that nothing, not even yourself, could come between that?
2. In light of the first point, we also see Nehemiah repenting of his people’s sins and even his own. Given the context, we don’t see much evidence of Nehemiah sinning but yet he repents. In short, this is a good reminder that no one is good, not even one and yet the mercy of God is upon us who believe in Jesus. The grace of God should wreck us every time we approach His throne.

Jesus is the Better Nehemiah
Lastly and most importantly, let us see Jesus in this passage. Although not stark at times, we should learn Christology and to find Jesus in all of scripture for it all points to Him! Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the king and this means that he lived a life of luxury compared to most men. We see him later leaving this place of luxury to gather people together to join him on God’s mission in restoring the city. In the same way and so much more so, Christ left His heavenly throne to a lowly manger. He took on human flesh, exposed himself to filth and disease, hung out with worthless people, and asked others to come along with Him as He went about His Father’s business. Ultimately, He willingly took the death we deserved and absorbed the wrath for our sins. God crushed Him in our place. He died the death we should have died. But only He could have atoned for our sins for God raised Him on the third day and Jesus took His rightful place, seated at the right of the God. All of this was for His Kingdom mission and He has commanded us to follow.

He left us with these words…

[18] “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

Jesus, we believe You are with us always. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who unites us with You in the Father. Spirit, teach us to be more like Jesus, that we may love the Father and our city as Jesus, You do. Amen.