What an incredible honor it is to be a church in the city, for the city. What an amazing and humbling opportunity we have in this life. God has chosen for us to exist at this point of history rather than any other. He has chosen when we would come in go out of this world, and where we would live (Acts 17:26). He has soverignly connected us into familial relationships, work relationships, social relationships, and even relationships which are solely due to geography (our neighbors). How then shall we live? How then shall we respond to God’s choice for us to live in San Diego in 2006 rather than on a Tibetan mountain in 1259 AD? What role in history am I playing? Am I the understudy, the lead, the insignificant extra, or do I see myself as nothing more than a stage prop? Is my role significant in this drama or do I yawn at the idea because I see no significance or value in my part?

If we are to be a church in the city, for the city, we must see that it is this city that God has sent us to. This is our Ninevah not our Tarshish. Shall we flee in disgust and fear like the mad prophet Jonah, or will we allow ourselves to be shipwrecked upon the rock of God’s sovereignty and set to sea whatever notions took us away from mission rather than to it? “Should I not pity…that great city” (Johan 4:11)? says the Just and Justifier of the ungodly. I pray the response from Kaleo would simply be “Here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

God give us a heart for this great city, that you would have pity on it. That you would throw all of us overboard into the sea of your power, so that we might be swallowed up into the heart of your passion. Free us from the deep of despair, and launch us into the city with the courage of a lion and the meekness of a lamb. May Christ rule our hearts and tame our fears. May Christ reign as King in this city for the freedom of the people.

Let His victory be known
His death proclaimed
For the joy of the city,
and the glory of His name

Amen