Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2a

 

When people visit an inner-city ministry lead by a man named Aaron, he warns them to watch their bags and wallets.

 

The ministry of prayer that Aaron and his wife lead is right across the street from the city’s biggest drug dealing corner. When Aaron says that he and his wife “don’t see ‘being missional’ as being sustainable there, who could argue?

But this couple believed it when they read in the Bible that God would give them a Helper, to be with them forever, the very Spirit of God who would live with them (John 14:16-18). They believed it as they moved right in and began to pray for the people who live lives of addiction, bondage and mental illness there. They said yes when they read “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ” in the Bible (Ephesians 5:1-2a).

And then their baby was born.

Aaron said, “When Noah was born, we took him out to the park for his baby dedication. Gathered all our neighborhood friends and passed the baby around the circle, asking them to bless him. Some folks were nervous—didn’t want to do it. I challenged them,” he said, “‘So, you’re not going to bless my baby?’ After that he became everybody’s baby.”[1]

“We don’t see ‘being missional’ as sustainable,” Aaron explained, “We’re incarnational…We’re here to stay. We’re here to love our neighbors and pray for them.”[2]

How do they do it? Scripture says, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8a).

God promises to give the power of incarnational living those who will say yes to Him.

[1] Weber, Jill. Even the Sparrow: A Pilgrim’s Guide to Prayer, Trust and Following the Leader, Muddy Pearl, Edinburgh, 2019, p. 152.

[2] Ibid., p.153.