Who God Is—and Who God Says We Are—in the Midst of SufferingSample

Not a Club

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it’s not the world but certain Christians which place ungodly limits on who we’re allowed to reach out to? Sure, most believers would say we’re all supposed to love and minister to "the least of these" in our society. But have you ever experienced a Christian looking at you sideways or even questioning you when you actually do it? When you’re actually seen with someone strange?

Yet when we look at the life of Jesus, we see that he stepped toward people whose culture—not just worldly culture but religious culture—turned away from. Lepers weren’t supposed to be touched, yet God in the flesh reached out to heal them.

There is no way I would have come out of the hardships of trauma and foster care if it wasn't for church people and community members stepping toward me regardless of being told not to take the risk.

God is calling us to step towards people, to reach out, to meet them where they are, with what we have, so they might know the healing Love of God.

Sometimes we get in a situation where we have just always done the same thing. We have always been involved with that nonprofit; we’ve always given money to that place. But walking a life with Jesus is not a club. It’s a call.

God made us to be the solution. We have to stop saying, "These times are just too crazy." Stop saying, "Man, I wish we lived back then." Stop making excuses to stay scared. God said fear not. God made you the solution for this "crazy time." We have a God who literally dwells within us. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. God made you for such a time as this. That’s the reason for us to put on the armor of God and march toward the war.

Believe that you can do this work.

Believe that you can tell the most lost person you know that they are beloved because you are beloved, and you were once lost, too.

Believe that you are equipped and called because God calls and equips you.

What lies have you believed that stop you from answering the call on your life?

How could you change your perspective of your purpose during these times?

How would that change what you do for “the least of these?”

In what way could you serve the orphan and the widow right where you are with what you have?

We hope this plan encouraged you.

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