Things I Learned In Kenya: The Significance of the ONE
June 8, 2009 Leave a comment
I was reminded of how completely valuable everyONE is in the eyes of God. Honestly, it’s easy for me to remember how important I am. I care about myself. My eternity, my health, my wealth, my family, my education, my food, my shelter. I care about what I need.
And a lot of the time I care about what others need. But when I step foot in a third world country of 36 million people surrounded by countries of 83 million people (Ethiopia), 30 million people (Uganda), 9 million people (Somalia), 39 million people (Sudan), and 40 million people (Tanzania) in a continent of 934 million people, which is only 1 continent of the 7 continents on Earth, which contains 6.7 billion people, I just get a little overwhelmed. I forget about the significance of the ONE. Maybe it’s just me.
But I remembered when Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep.
Matthew 15:3-7 ”3So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the ONE that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over ONE lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away.”
I got to spend a lot of time with Ben Bahati. He is a pastor and musician. He used to live in the slums of Kibera, the largest slum in Africa with over 1 million people. He was saved and called into ministry and through this ONE man God has planted over 50 churches and several orphanages and feeding stations in Kenya. Millions are hearing the gospel. Thousands being fed and clothed. Hundreds are being housed and educated. He is just ONE example.
It amazes me what God can do through ONE person.
Who was the ONE who told Ben Bahati about the gospel of Jesus?
What if no ONE had told Billy Graham about God?
What does God want to do through you?
It’s all about the ONE. EveryONE.
