Get the Book Join the Mailing List
Week 2: Thursday
Scripture Verses
- James 1:26–27
- Matthew 25:31–46
- Luke 7:18–23
Questions to Consider
- What are some of the ways people suffer around the world?
- How does God intend to use you to help them in their need?
- Why are we not more responsive to the needs of others?
- How does God empower us to serve the needs of others?
Plan of Action
- Volunteer to serve with an organization which is working to positively affect the lives of others.
- Be an advocate for others in need. Organize blood drive, food drive, or other type of ministry to help others in need.
- Consider participating in a mission trip to serve others.
Reflection
Most of you who are reading this email are blessed. You eat three full meals a day. You have clean drinking water. You have access to quality medical care. But this is not true for many people living in this world. There is much pain and suffering that goes on.
Diseases of poverty cause 14 million deaths each year. These diseases are caused by contaminated water supply, inadequate sanitation, improper medical care, and poor nutrition. So many of these deaths are preventable.
We might wonder: “why doesn’t someone do something about this?” But the question that comes back to us is: “why don’t we do anything about it?”
There are some reasons why we don’t respond to the great need:
Now is not the right time
There is never going to be a good time. There is never going to be enough money. You are never going to be qualified enough. If you are waiting for the perfect time, you will never go. Remember when you are not able, God is more than able.
Someone else will go
We always think someone else is going to go. We think someone else will respond to the crisis. But when God puts a burden upon your heart, recognize it is God calling you to respond. You are God’s plan. He has blessed you to make a difference.
It is too overwhelming
There is too much. The challenges around the world are immense. The great need is overwhelming. But God doesn’t call you to do it all. He calls you to do your part. He calls you to make a difference one person at a time. That is how it works.
We don’t want to go
We don’t want to know. Does seeing the starving children on TV make you uncomfortable? You are not alone. We go on living our lives ignorant of the plight of others. We like it that way. We don’t want to see others suffering. It makes us feel guilty. So we go on living busy lives, distracted from the pain around us.
Today, we are going to give up apathy. We are going to care enough to make a difference. When Jesus came to this earth he healed the sick. He made the lame to walk. He gave the blind their sight. He cast out the demons. He offered hope to those without hope. He gave us hope! As we follow him, our Savior, we care because he cared enough for us.
I want to encourage you to get involved making a difference. It may be helping orphans in Haiti. It may be helping provide clean drinking water in Uganda. It may be helping feed children suffering from malnutrition in the Philippines.
The point is God has blessed you. The blessing he gives is not just to be a blessing to yourself, but to be a blessing others. In Genesis12:1–3, God told Abram he was going to bless him so that he could be a blessing to others. In 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 it says “God comforts us in our afflictions so that we can comfort others.” Do you see it? God helps you, so that you can help others.
You are part of God’s plan. It’s time to give up apathy and seize his calling. When you follow God’s leading here, it may end up being one of the most fulfilling things you have ever done.
Pastor Phil what are your Haite trip dates?
Hi Gene- I am headed to Haiti the Saturday after Easter. I will email you the itinerary.