We arrived on scene to find a young man (we’ll call him Hank) about my age walking around holding his head. Hank had been injured and his buddy called 911 for evaluation.
“Hey man what’s going on?” I asked, stepping close enough to get a look at his head.
He shook his head. “Man, I’m hurt. I think I cut myself or somethin’.”
“Alright let’s head on over to the rescue (ambulance) so I can look you over and see what we’ve got.”
He nodded and followed me to the rescue. He didn’t seem hurt too bad and I confirmed my suspicions as I checked him over. There was nothing life threatening but he did have a cut that needed attention.
“Is it bad bro?” he asked. “It’s bad isn’t it?”
“Naw,” I said. “It may need a few stitches but you’ll be fine.”
He exhaled. “Okay good.”
My partner and I got him all ready for transport to the hospital and as we were pulling away I began to feel the Holy Spirit stir inside of me. I’ve come to notice the feeling as a sort of pre-alert. A sort of, hey pay attention to what’s coming next.
I watched him for a moment and could see distress swimming through his eyes but I didn’t have any specific leading yet. “So how long have you been with this company?”
He glanced at me. “Couple months.” He closed his eyes. “Man I need this job. My lady’s gonna kill me.”
I scrunched my forehead. “What? Why?”
“I gotta work man. I can’t be laid up in no hospital. She’s gonna be pissed.”
A wry smile worked at my mouth. “No way. She’s gonna be all like, ‘Oh my baby. Where’s my baby. Is he okay?’ She’ll be running around the ER like crazy screaming about how much she loves you.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah right.” He sighed. “I’m just prayin I get out quick you know.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re a praying man huh?”
He nodded. “Yeah man. I love Jesus. He’s my savior bro.”
I told him I loved Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit pricked my heart. “Well, I’d like to pray for you if that’s okay.”
He looked at me and smiled. “Yeah man let’s do it.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and blessed him as the Lord led. As I spoke the words God gave me I felt the Lords compassion and love for Hank build. It wasn’t too long before the Lord gave me words to speak about the secrets of Hank’s heart. Not the garbage or sin but the loneliness he’d felt and experienced most of his life.
As I spoke words of love, life, healing, and encouragement I could feel Hank strengthen as if God’s words were steroids feeding his muscles. The Lord assured him that he was never, and would never be, alone and that he didn’t have to feel that way.
As I pulled my hand away I felt so blessed to be a part of Hank’s life. I hadn’t felt any kind of supernatural physical manifestation but I had felt the love and compassion of God for Hank. I knew he’d been touched.
But when I looked at him he was staring back at me with wide eyes filled with awe and wonder. “That was powerful bro!” he said and shook his hands. “Dude you are a man of God. You…bro…I’ve only felt that way once in my life and it was the first time I ever walked into a church. Are you a pastor?”
I just looked at him. “Uh…”
Like I said, I’d felt the love and compassion of God for Hank but I hadn’t felt anything like what he’d apparently felt. I hit my own reset button and smiled.
“Well, first of all we are both men of God. And second, I’m not a pastor but I am a minister of the gospel just like you. As Paul says, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That’s what the gospel is. People like me and you are called to reflect the love of Jesus to everyone around us so that they can be reconciled to God and be buried in His enormous heart.”
He smiled and nodded. We continued to chat and parted ways at the ER.
The most important thing is loving Jesus and loving others. It’s not about warm tingles or fire or miracles, signs and wonders. Those things are great but the foundation is love. Love impacts people every single time. It’s the only thing that brings us closer to God. It’s the only thing that changes hearts. It is the lifeblood of reconciliation.
So go love people around you!
Jesse and Kara Birkey
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Jesse and Kara Birkey are committed lovers of Jesus who seek to show others the extraordinary life of Jesus is available for everyone. They have authored two books, been featured in films and seek to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can. Follow their blog here.
Bring Jesse and Kara to your venue. Find more information here.
Get a sneak preview of Jesse’s upcoming fiction, Finding Home.
Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People has been endorsed by Sid Roth and Mark Virkler and is a collection of inspiring stories making it clear that the extraordinary life of Jesus is available to all who love Him. It’s also the testimony of Jesse’s life, the road he travelled bringing him into the arms of Jesus. Get the paperback here. Get the Kindle Version Here. View the trailer here.
Marriage What’s the Point? One couple finds meaning in a crazy mess is the story of their marriage—The tragedy and the restoration. They bear their hearts in an attempt to get others to bear theirs and finally receive the freedom they’ve longed for. Get the paperback here. Get the Kindle Version Here.
Jesse is also featured in the film DeadRaiser, a movie shining the spotlight on resurrection testimonies across the nation. Find more information here.
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