The Story in Song Part 4 | The City

For a quick review, here are links to the previous posts in "The Story in Song" series.

Part 1 | The Love of God 
Part 2 | Warrior
Part 3 | Nicodemus

Jesus invites us in Worcester to reach out to the people around us in (4) The City.

They say the city sings a song / And you can't help but sing along. / And i be looking in their eyes explaining / "Like, i'm sorry, you're dead wrong.”

 
Those who follow Jesus are called to live as if the love of God can reach anyone – including your neighbor who doesn't look like you, talk like you, or live like you – because that's exactly what the love of God does.

He doesn't separate people because this person grew up in Tatnuck Sqaure and that person grew up in Main South. He's not in to comparing degrees from WPI, Clark, MCPHS, or Quinsig. He doesn't create divides because that teenager goes to Worcester Academy and this teenager goes to North. He doesn't favor Salisbury Street over Kilby Street, and He doesn't choose this neighborhood over that neighborhood. He's not into "this or that" period. He's in each of these places and He walks among all of these people. Why? Listen to this or watch below.

Jesus is not a respecter of persons; He is the great reconciler. He teaches the rich how to give, not only their money, but the comfort of their homes and the freedom of their time to those less fortunate. He teaches the poor how to receive help well, enjoying the new friendships of those who can encourage them and show them, just as sin knows no boundaries – after all, as the late modern prophet the Notorious B.I.G. said, "Mo' money, mo' problems"
– even greater still, grace knows no boundaries. 

Sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end. So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. – Romans 5:20-6:5

By grace, we can follow Jesus' lead. We can follow the "God who is putting everything together through the Messiah," and we invite others into this new life without boundaries in the city. When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He listened to their stories and their pain, and then shared from the Scriptures how He came to live, die, and live again so He could walk with them in their joy and suffering "always and to the ends of the earth." 

We don’t give people we meet a boxed in location, certain type of building, faux religious culture, strict way of living, or forced personality. We give them Jesus and people who, together, can become like Jesus. We give them His grace and His story – more than powerful enough to meet them where they’re at so they can teach us how He saves people in their context.

You are not your hood, homie. / It did not make you. / Look, we are proof you don't have to conform. / The road was so lonely, / But you cannot tell me it’s impossible to exit that mosh pit scarless. / You don't have to sing along.

Jesus can save us together in Worcester – a diverse group of people from all over our city, walking together by His Spirit, and representing the coming City of God filled with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Black, Hispanic, or white; rich, middle class or poor – He can make anyone’s eyes see the beauty of His story. And He brings people together when He does it. That's what we find in His Word, the Scriptures, and that's why we still share His story with people today.

Tried to read the Word, but didn't understand the grammar  / ’Til His grace came and gave me a new brain. / You cannot tell me that poverty is bigger than sovereignty.

How can He do this in you for your sake and for the sake of others?

Check out tomorrow's post featuring Part 5 | Walk with Me.
 
 – Sully

If your curiosity is piqued, or something inside you is being stirred, feel free to connect.