do you want to be free?

Let me paint you a picture of the red light district, Bangla Road, in Phuket.
 
Its one main road with many roads branching off of it filled with hundreds of bars. Hundreds. 
It’s loud, it’s busy, it’s bright, it’s all smoke and mirrors and a ton of people having the absolute time of their lives. Families, couples, single men, teenagers, lady boys, prostitutes, vendors, even old people just romp around gawking at the girls dancing above buildings in boxes, girls dancing on bars, girls dancing on poles, even lady boys stripping.
You walk down the road and people are walking around filming the chaos, couples are fighting, promoters try and get you to their clubs, vendors are flashing lights at you trying to sell things, and about every 10 feet someone shoves a flyer in your face to try and get you to their ‘ping pong show’.
 
It all comes down to the fact that no body down there, not one person, knows how valuable they are, or that they’re treasured, or that the maker of the universe has a plan for their lives.
They just don’t know.
 
But my Jesus says
that ‘we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.’
(John 8:32)
 
When I walk down Bangla Road, all I see is a whole lot of sons and daughters that need to be set free.
 
So the first week that we began doing ministry in the bars I asked the Lord what my purpose down here was and what he wanted me to be doing. He told me to show the people that I see and meet what being in love with Jesus looks like, what it really is. He told me to just be in love with him.
People need to see and they need to know that a relationship with Jesus is satisfying, it is full, it is life giving, it affirms, it sustains, and it brings so much joy.
A relationship with Jesus is what I have to offer them.
Not rules, not religion, not even a bible- just Jesus.
 
I can’t bring change to this evil place, I can’t save anyone, I can’t break chains, I can’t mend hearts, or comfort all the lonely people, but Jesus can.
 
So that’s what this month is about.
Showing people what it looks like to be satisfied, and full, and joyful, and taken care of, and valued, and completely in love with Jesus.
I don’t have all the answers, and I can’t justify all the evil in the world, but I can love Jesus and let others see the way that he has completely wrecked my life.
 
I sing because he is good,
I dance because he is good,
and I shout because he is good.
 
I’m calling out asking if anyone wants to join me.
 
Do you want to be free?
Do you want real love, love that satisfies?
My Jesus can give you that.