in the book of luke is a story of four friends who carry who carry a fifth friend who is paralized to see Jesus. there is no specific distance mentioned that they came from. recently the Spirit seemed to ask me "how far are you willing to go for one soul?" what if your hands begain to blister and bleed? what if your shoulder felt like it was going out of joint? what if he seemed to get heavier and heavier the further you walked? we pray for our cities to be saved but can we walk in unity enough to bear the the spiritialy crippled to Jesus? frank bartleman wrote in his book azusa street, "we were gripped with real travail of soul by the Spirit that no more could be shaken off than could the birth pangs of a woman in travail, without doing absolute violence to the Spirit of God. it was real intercession by the Holy Spirit." the word "real" is the key. do we really want the real thing? sleepless nights, morning sickness, stretch marks, and thats just the begaining! but when that soul is born it is born for real! The Spirit of God seems to be asking "who is willing to carry my babies for me?" are we his bride? are we his body? do we really want to know him? in the fellowship of his suffering? how far are we willing to go for one soul? oh, that the Lamb would receive the reward for his sacrafice! peace and grace to you one
