God moments

Recently in our Gospel Singing Class, Debi and I taught the song "The Greatest Commands," and read the story of Jesus with the expert in the law. When the lawyer asked, "What must I do to inherit life forever?" the answer was simple: Love God, love others. We asked the class why, out of all of the law that are written in the Bible, out of all the things that Jesus taught... why is loving God, and loving others the two most important laws? Why not "don't murder" or "don't steal" or "respect your elders?" After some different thoughts were tossed around and discussed, we all came to the conclusion that if we have a foundation of love, we will always try to do the right thing.

It was easy for our friends Haruna, Kazuhiro, Michiaki, (all college students) and Akiko (a middle aged woman) to understand the concept of "loving your neighbor", but what was really confusing for them was when Jesus said ,"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind." All of them were thinking the same thing, but finally, one of them finally spoke up... "Why do I have to love God?"...

And the floodgates of their hearts were opened . . .

"I think to understand or know someone comes before loving them."
"I don't know how to love God. Is it the same as loving your parents?"
"What happens if I don't love God?"
"If God loves everyone, why will he send them to Hell?"
"Are there people who believe in God out of fear?"
"Why did God choose someone else (Jesus) to come to earth and be killed?"
"Why did God become a man?"
"What does John 1 mean, 'He came to His own but His own did not receive Him'?"
"What is the difference between soul and spirit?"
"Why do you (Debi and Erica) believe that people are God's special creation and not animals?"
"If we are made in God's image... does that mean his physical form?"
"Why didn't God just make us sinless?"
"Why does God want me to love him?"
"Why did God decide to create us?"

These kinds of questions were asked and discussed, rapid fire, for almost 2 hours after class was supposed to end. Debi and I just sat there, with our Bibles open, listening to their questions, praying to God with all of our hearts for wisdom at this incredible time, and speaking truth and love into their hearts, as the Holy Spirit was directing us. And it was incredible. All of us went away filled with God spirit--some of us, as Christians, praising God for what he was doing that night, and the others deep in thought, wondering "Can it really be? There is a God who made me? Made this universe? Wants me to live in Heaven? And he loves me?"

The next day was coffee shop at the church, and each one of them came back to the church at different times during the day. This was a huge sign to me that God was really working powerfully in their hearts the night before. That strange and mysterious feeling they had, that wonderful feeling the night before... whatever it was... they wanted it again.

God, in Your great love and in the time of Your favor, allow them to know that it's You. You are the One stirring their hearts to faith. You are the One guiding their hearts to ask questions. You are the One drawing them to Yourself. It's You.