It's so funny to me how God in His sovereignty works sometimes. I have been thinking through why I am here in DC. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am supposed to be here, but sometimes I wonder why.
I recently listened to a sermon by Mark Driscoll (great pastor if you don't know of him) about having a heart for the city. The sermon was the first in a series going through the book of Nehemiah. He explained that the first chapter of the book (as well as a few other chapters in the book) is believed to be from Nehemiah's personal journal. The first three verses explain that Nehemiah had some visitors who came and told him how the people of Jerusalem are in exile, the wall around the city has been broken down and the gates are destroyed by fire. Nehemiah weeps and mourns and prays to God for the people of Jerusalem.
Here's the funny thing, this tragedy happened 141 years previous to when Nehemiah's friends came to tell him. That would be similar to someone coming to us and saying Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed. Would we weep and mourn? Probably not. That's old news that happened generations ago. No one we know is that personally affected.
Mark continues to say that Nehemiah is mourning because God the Holy Spirit has now given him a new heart for the city of Jerusalem, Jesus's heart for the city. Wouldn't most of us agree that God loves people? I mean that's why He sent His Son to die a criminal's death on a cross. It was the only way we could have a relationship with God, so He did it. Just think about one of the Bible's most common verses, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." God loves people. And way more than we love people!
Where are most people concentrated across the world? The cities. If we're called to have a heart like God's then we're called to have a heart for His people. That's why I'm here. God, only by His Spirit and grace, gave me a heart for people. That's why I'm here.
Adding up the population of Washington, DC, Arlington County, VA and Fairfax County, VA, I am in close (and maybe sometimes too close, haha) proximity to 2 million people. There aren't many other places in the world like this.
Is it hard? Extremely. Do I want to give up? All the time. But, is that God's heart? No. He never gave up on us, and He never will.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."- 2 Corinthians 12:9
