Chasing Jerusalem

Lately I've been spending a lot of time looking at the life and ministry of Jesus through the gospel accounts. Mainly my thoughts have been focused on the gospel of John, as Campus Crusade is studying that as a group this semester. However, this past Sunday, I got the chance to do something I don't normally get to do, and attend the college service of Eastview Christian Church, Fuel. Fuel is one of the most thriving college ministries in the area, drawing hundreds of students from the Normal area, and I love it! Brandon Grant, the college pastor, is one of the most dynamic speakers I have ever listend to, and really draws you in with his passion and insight. This week was no exception.

As we dove into the scriptures, we took a look at the life of Jesus through the eyes of Luke. As we looked at Jesus, we discussed the idea of how Jesus was put on this earth for a purpose, to do the work the Father sent Him to do, and ultimately in the end be our sacrifice. That's it. His whole life was dedicated to His people and then showing His ultimate love, dying on the cross for the very same people. He was chasing after Jerusalem. We talked about what it must have been like for Him. He was the most popular and talked about guy of the time. People knew Him. I guess you could say He was a pretty Big Deal. People quickly got wind of who He was, Healer, Lover, Friend, Miracle Worker. EVERYONE wanted attention from Him. Imagine what it must have been like for Him!! Everyone was vying for the attention of Him. Now obviously Jesus couldn't heal everyone who asked Him to. He had to turn people down. Is this the Jesus you always picture? It wasn't for me, and to quite honest was challenging for me to think about. However, He was chasing after Jerusalem, the reason why He was on the Earth to begin with. He was on a mission, to fulfill the purpose He was called to. He couldn't be distracted. He spent the time He was given carefully and in accordance with the will of His Father.

This got me thinking, what is my Jerusalem? What is the purpose that the Father has put me on Earth for? Am I being too distracted by the demands of everyday life to hear the voice of God telling me of my Jerusalem?

If you know me, you know that this semester is totally crazy for me. I have a TON going on, and I have asked for prayer numerous times that I would be able to handle what is demanded of me and not spread myself too thin, but isn't that what's wrong!? We are so distracted and refuse to say "no" as Jesus sometimes did in order to figure out our true Jerusalem in our lives. At Fuel we were challenged to figure out what our Jerusalem was and seriously pray to it's realization. Mother Theresa's Jerusalem was loving people, Martin Luther King's Jerusalem was ending racism, etc, etc.

The more I think and pray about it, I feel like my Jerusalem is loving and ministering to students. I have a heart and desire to invest the life the Lord has given me to having students be my Jerusalem. It's a crazy thing to think about just 7 months shy of graduating from college. The beginning of the rest of my life starts now. How will I spend my time? How will I spend my life? Will it make a difference? Will I have the discernment necessary to say yes when it counts and no when it doesn't? What is my TRUE Jerusalem?

What is your true Jerusalem? Search it out, chase after it, and pray to it's realization....