Why are we so afraid to fight for a cause? Why do we neglect the heart of the Gospel that calls us to action?
I have been asking myself these questions a lot these days. If we consider the life of Jesus it is clear that his message was one of practicality: giving food to the hungry, healing the sick, caring for the widows and orphans. I believe we need to be asking ourselves how are we reflecting the love of God in a darkened world? A few days ago we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent. In our church we lit the candle of Hope. The light represents the hope we have in Jesus and how we too are to be light in a darkened and corrupted world.
So…….
What am I doing? Why do I feel so afraid to rally for orphans or feeding the hungry? Why does the idea of asking people for money to support a cause which I feel God calling me to? We live in a society that thrives on blending in, mediocrity and complacency. Jesus was subscribed to none of these things, so why should I.
I recognize that I some may think I am over-zealous, they may get fed up with the petitions and I may lose friends but isn’t that also the risks of following Jesus Christ and proclaiming the gospel by thought, word and deed?
So here is how I am going to start. I am going to sign up to be a Reece’s Rainbow Christmas Warrior. It makes me uncomfortable and scared because quite frankly, I hate to fail. But I feel this is one small (miniscule really) thing that I can do to put the gospel into action this Christmas Season. The goal is to raise $1000 for an orphan. The funds go towards their grant, which helps their forever family get them home. I will post more once I have a child assigned to me but until then please prayerfully consider a donation. All donations made directly to Reece’s Rainbow are tax deductible and can be made online or by cheque through snail mail.
I need to raise $40 a day until Christmas. I am in the process of formulating more creative ideas to raise funds, so if you think of something let me know. Here we go…..
[27 ] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
(James 1:27 ESV)
[22 ] You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. [23 ] If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, [24 ] and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
(Exodus 22:22-24 ESV)
[8 ] Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
[9 ] Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
(Proverbs 31:8-9 ESV)
[5 ] “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,
[6 ] if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, [7 ] then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
(Jeremiah 7:5; Jeremiah 7:6-7 ESV)
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