Now, the reason I said all of that is because my heart is so saddened today. As I am reaching out to those in my community that have needs and looking for families that need meals during this holiday season, I am so deeply saddened at what I am finding. So far each person has told me they have sought help within our churches to meet the needs they have. Each time without fail and regardless of color of skin they have been turned away. One person was even told the church they went to for help has to have a referral from the local community welfare organization before the church can help them.
I met with one couple that had been so mistreated by those that are supposed to be there to help and made to feel as though they were..."less than"... that she had become hopeless believing there was nowhere else to turn. Her heart was hurting so badly that she found it difficult to even smile while we were talking.
My heart is broken this morning. Not for those that need help and are facing dire situations that seem to be hopeless. But my heart is breaking for those that have placed conditions on the help they are willing to give those that are seeking something. My heart is breaking for those that say they follow Christ but yet do not walk out what they believe. My heart is breaking for those that choose to only be the light of the world within the walls of their church building and only to those that believe.
Christians, what are we doing?
Why are we placing conditions on the love we extend to those that need our Savior so desperately? Don't you know we are grieving the heart of the Lord when we do not love those less fortunate? What happens when we don't reach out and help? What does the King to say us in that moment?
Matthew 25:41-46 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; (43) I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' (44) "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' (45) Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' (46) And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Do we remember what "true religion" is?
James 1:23-27 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (25) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (26) If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. (27) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
If we are truly a city on a hill, then we must be the light that Jesus uses to draw those He has called to Himself. We cannot be hearers only sitting on our pews or in our chairs behind the walls of a lifeless building turning away those we deem not worthy of our love and compassion. In fact, God told Joshua to march around a city with walls so that the Children of Israel would obtain one of many victories so they could move into the promise He made to their forefathers after bringing them out of slavery and bondage from Egypt.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
We believe we have love for each other, but when we are asked to put that love on display, what do we do? Do we consider loving someone only a matter of the heart? Or do we believe we are to visit the widows and the orphans? Do we believe love is feeding those that are hungry? Providing water to those who thirst? Do we believe we should clothe those that are naked? Do we believe love is visiting someone in their prison, whether physical or emotional?
When our traditional denominational churches are approached for help by those that are facing desperation and hopelessness and, whom God also loves, are turned away or conditions are placed on the love people of God are supposed to show others, then people get an impression of those that they know to be associated with that church. What impression do you want others to have of you and the God you serve?
Joshua 24:14-15 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! (15) And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Have you made your decision about whom you will serve? How are you going to serve the Lord today?
Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Please reach out to your communities. Move outside the walls of the building and into the streets. You cannot find those that desperately need the Lord inside the church on a pew. They are in the community. Jesus went into the communities and preached and healed and cast out demons and performed miracles for those that had need. He did not do it from the illusion of safety inside the synagogue.
Luke 10:1-2 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. (2) Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Find out how you can serve in your community. Find those that have needs and ask God what you can do to meet them. He will provide you with the means and He will make a way. Be His hands and His feet on this earth today.
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