Chris, Brandon, and I were driving to the bridge with the purpose of giving out Starbucks food. Chris went to Starbucks & they at the end of the day give it to him for the purpose of distributing it out to the homeless. As we pull up to the Bridge there is a young man digging through the trash can for food. We get out of the car & I wave at him. Chris opens the trunk. The man walks over & says I know you. Funny enough two months ago I went out to the bus station/train station in downtown Dallas to hand out bottled water & living water. This same man, named Rachid, was the first person I talked to on the streets about his destiny in Christ & how Christ loved him so much he sent us to give him living water. This is my second night out with the CFNI students & at a totally different location, The Bridge, & he's the first person that comes up to us. Coincidence I think not.
This time no water but plenty of food. We get out the food and show the love of Christ in deed & truth. Sincerely he sees how Christ loves him each time we meet up & Christ meets his need over & beyond. Chris & Brandon fill his backpack overflowing with food. Rachid mentions he's in a desert place & needed this. The scripture on my heart to share with him is Isaiah 35. I read the scripture & put his name within the scripture: The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for Rachid; and Rachid's desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. He shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given to him, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, he shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen Rachid's weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to Rachid's fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Chris then reads to him Mat 6:25 Telling Rachid about how the Sparrows don't worry. That the Lord feeds them & there is no need to worry. "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Is not Rachid much better than they?" He asks Rachid if he is better than many sparrows. Rachid's response tore at my heart. His reply crushed me he said, "no". He didn't recognize his own worth. Chris & Brandon continued to minister the simple gospel message that yes he is worth more than many sparrows as evidence of us being there when he was in need not once but twice. It wasn't a matter of being in the right place at the right time. It was so much more than that. He didn't know we were coming. He wasn't expecting God to provide food for him. He was digging in the trash & Christ said "I have more for Rachid. I have so much more for my son." Did I know I'd ever see Rachid again, no. Was I expecting to see him that night, no. It was Christ that ordered our steps that night. He loves Rachid with an everlasting love & wants us all to know we are worth more than many sparrows. Rachid gave his life to Christ & immediately wanted to be reconciled to his mother. Ask her for forgiveness. Brandon offered to give Rachid bus money which blew Rachid away that we'd give him food, money, & the best of all Christ his Jehovah Jireh.
We went on ministering pierced in our hearts from Rachid's response. I'm still moved by my lord & saviors love for Rachid, that he'd move so profoundly in his life through simple things. I know he will continue to bring other laborers onto his path for he his called, he does have a destiny, & our Father has his son. Angels are rejoicing in heaven.
