For The One

I was sitting in the back of an Uber a year ago in New Orleans, chatting with my driver about his favorite festivals, and his love of New Orleans parties. The conversation took a hard left when he described that his son had died a year prior. A mix of sadness, guilt and void entered the car. Jon was sitting next to me and we both felt his loss.

He talked briefly about how he copes now. Unprompted he said he drinks more to forget his woes and stays “busy” driving. I could feel though even he knew he wasn’t fooling himself. The pain was still there at the end of the day.

That was when I asked him if he knew Jesus.

We continued talking for the rest of our ride. And, while he didn’t pass from death to life I felt the perfect presence of the Holy Spirit. Guiding the conversation, leaning into this man.

His name was Michael.

I have had countless encounters like this. At former jobs waiting tables. Coffeehouses in Kona Hawaii. Plane rides. Buses. Bars. Church chairs. Office couches. Back docks of restaurants. EVERYWHERE. I feel a massive rush from the Holy Spirit the moment a conversation begins. I can see Him leading it. And I am SO here for this.

Here for the one.

There are very few things in this short life that compare to watching the Kingdom come crashing down on a single soul. And there is NOTHING like watching a soul move from death to life in Jesus. NOTHING.

Jesus came for the one.
He left the herd for the single lost soul.
Left the heavens for the child he so missed.
Left the throne for a manger to greet us.
Meet us.
Save us.
For one.

God would love to use YOU to meet one. Just like him traveling to Sidon to meet the woman with the plagued child, just like he met the woman at the well, just like he met Paul, just like he met Cornelius, Jesus GOES ALL IN for one.

And so do we. Ask God to help you save someone today. Meet someone in their need today. Help them find hope today.

We live for one. And we live for One.