Anyone who knows us knows that our hearts are for the orphans. Obviously we cannot adopt all 147 million that are in this world BUT we can plead to you on their behalf.
Not all are called to adopt (although I personally think many are called but choose to ignore God's voice because of fear. Fear of the unknown - fear of lack of finances etc) But throughout Scripture we are commanded to act on behalf of the fatherless - SO here is my challenge to you (actually it's partly a challenge from Linny that I want to pass on to you)
Please continue to read ...
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Proverbs 24:11-12
Which group of oppressed people does the Lord want you to get involved with?
the poor?
the widow?
the slave?
the hungry?
the prostitute?
the prisoner?
the orphan?
As Christians we do not have the right to sit back and do nothing.
Yes, we are saved by grace, but Scripture say "If you love Me you will obey what I command" (John 14:15) - and what are the two greatest commandments? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it 'Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:37-39
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) shows us clearly who our neighbor is - the one who is in need.
the poor!
the widow!
the slave!
the hungry!
the prostitute!
the prisoner!
the orphan!
So then how does Scripture say we should love them? AS OURSELVES. Have you really given this much thought before? - how do you love yourself? - we feed ourselves, cloth ourselves - actually in the western world we SPOIL ourselves! Think about it - what are all the things we call 'necessities in life' while 1 billion other people will go to bed hungry tonight!
Again, please read 1 John 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
My Challenge
To meditate on these scriptures for a month.
Ask the Lord how He wants you to love others and PLEASE BE OPEN to WHATEVER direction He leads.
DO NOT FEAR.
What He calls you to do may be harder than anything you have done before BUT nothing is more precious, rewarding and satisfying than being obedient to our Heavenly Father and following - WHEREVER HE MAY LEAD.
3 comments:
You know I'm in :)
Wonderful challenge, dear friend. Love it.
Love your heart.
Great scriptures to ponder and pray over. We are working on our adoption! Hehe, I even asked Craig last night if we can have 2 more and not 1 more (he wants 1 more, I want many!) I wish I could save all the children. But like you guys, can't save all of them. But something I try to remember is that the way in which you raise your children will have a rippling effect over many generations after your child. So even though we may only adopt one or two, we potenially are actually saving many many children. As the way we raise our birth and adopted children will affect their children, and each generation afterwards. I pray that we raise our children to be God loving children, and they do the same for their children.
AMEN! Beautiful challenge and post!
Blessings and love,
Jill
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