Tag Archives: Satisfy the needs of the oppressed

The Untold Story

We just watched an old movie, The Ghost of Dickens Past: The untold story of a simple act of charity. It starred Christopher Heyerdahl, who in this presentation bears a striking resemblance to our good friend Pastor Willy Neudahl. True or fictional, the story relays the inspiration behind Dickens’ famous novel A Christmas Carol. Perplexed by the inability to write and yet the driving need to write in order to make money, Dickens is led by a mysterious young girl who helps him see the unintended consequences of his self-driven choices. Arriving back in his present environment he is moved to give generously to a needy family. Upon doing so he realizes at once that his worry and despair were immediately replaced by the joy of turning his thoughts from his own wants and needs to the real needs of others. It was to him, as it is to each of us, the key to a life liberated from the enslaving pursuit of more. It reminds me of the revelation that came after a conversation between a mother and her son:

It’s time to do your studies, said the mom, But why do I need to study asked the boy? Because then you will get good grades. But why do I need good grades? Because then you will be able to graduate. But why do I need to graduate? So then you can go to college. But why do I need to go to college? Because then you can get a good job. But why do I need a good job? So you can marry and have children and support your family. But what comes after that? Well, after that you eventually die. And how will all my accomplishments benefit me then mother?

The procession of questions and answers led them both to ponder in silence, what is actually the true meaning of life. What fuels the purpose of our earthly being? Is it just a procession of tasks and accomplishments to advance our own dreams and feed our own joys? Has it occurred to you lately to consider where your path of endless tasks and accomplishments is leading you – and for what great purpose? A better job for a better house and more things to put in it? More savings for comfortable retirement so I can relax in leisure and satisfy all my desires? I can say for sure, it’s been on my mind. I suppose it is natural that, the less of life you have to live, the more you realize its value. Better yet, that we remember this lesson from the days of our youth and pursue its wisdom with great haste and diligence.

“What is the purpose of my life? What will be the lasting result of all my efforts?”

Jesus summed it up with two commands that should always lead my daily pursuits and energies: To love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. Love God – Love others.

All throughout God’s redemptive story is the constant theme of his consistent, persistent, and relentless pursuit of the very people who ignored him and rebelled against him, people who had no way of paying him back for his endless love and amazing grace, people like you and me. And his story models the pattern for our own lives. The best and most fulfilling lives are those spent in behalf of the hungry and satisfying the needs of the oppressed. For sure, our well-earned gains bring us such temporary pleasures. But the greatest reward is always – always – found in ministering to those Jesus himself called, “the least of these.” In fact, the only way we could possibly serve him and know him is to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit those in prison. (Matthew 25:34-40)

God’s Word makes it clear that such good works do not get us into heaven. That gift is provided only by his grace. But it is by those very selfless works to which our lives are devoted that bring us into the presence of our Lord and that reveal who he is and who we are meant to be in his sight.

Our life purpose is achieved by the untold story of our daily choices. May yours bring you greatest joy!

Living the life we were meant to live

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Summer at the acreage is a colorful event. Wildflowers and other perennials bloom to celebrate the beauty and creativity of God’s creation. Of course, the blooms don’t last forever. Some last only for a day, others for weeks, and gradually replaced by other blooms.

Such is an illustration of our life. We too are like wildflowers. We bloom for a while and then the richness of our beauty dies away. Imagine, if you knew the end of your life was near how you might live differently between now and then. What priorities might change and how might you live each day to better reflect your life goals? Wouldn’t you expect to find greater appreciation for the time you have?

We have this choice each day: to wander through it rather mindlessly, consumed with the planning of some future season of our life or to live THIS day fully and with purpose and passion. Choose to live resolutely and faithfully, becoming as we were intended – the first fruits of God’s creation (James 1:18). Reject ‘worthless religion’ (that which has no effect on our lives) and embrace that which is beneficial to us and others and is pleasing to God. What does this look like? “…to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

We were designed to help others and to keep pure. “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10) If we really want to be the light of the world as Jesus challenged us, we have to go where there is darkness, to become involved where there is hurt and pain.

But where does such selfless desire come from? And how is this done? It’s impossible if we are polluted by the things of the world. If we let the smog of distraction and public opinion impede our light and the sludge soil our living water, what use will we be? God warns us, “keep from being polluted by the world.” In what ways has pollution entered your life?

Let your light shine today, where you are and across the world. The intent of Go Light Our World, is to encourage each of us to be light bearers through this daily blog; but also to support missions around the world ‘on behalf of the hungry and to satisfy the needs of the oppressed.’ YOU can help shine the light: check out the Ministries Link on our website www.GoLightOurWorld.org, Pray for those who bring light and those who receive it. Become a partner with any size financial gift, knowing that all your gift goes to directly support ministry efforts. BE a light that shines. Bloom while there is time.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

Two Views

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Have you ever noticed how some people appear to be so blessed with good health, wealth, close friendships, good jobs, homes and more? (It is indeed a dangerous and slippery line of thinking so we won’t stay here long.) But really, do you ever think that and ask, “Why don’t I have MORE?” (As if more of the world would really make us happier.)

And have you ever had God suddenly flip the switch of your thinking to consider, “Why is it that MOST the world has so very little? And so very much pain, barely eking out a meager existence at best with no evident opportunity to escape the bonds of poverty and despair? And why do I have SO MUCH?” I am free to live in relative comfort even with Leukemia, receive good medical treatment and access to safe and affordable food and water and shelter, worshipping in freedom, while other Christians are persecuted and tortured, even to death. It certainly gives us pause for consideration about our complaining and a prompt to give thanks for our blessings – every single day!

But is it good enough to settle with, “There but the grace of God go I?” Are the words of Isaiah meaningful to us today? “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10) And in chapter 61 (excerpts): the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor, to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, a garment of praise instead of despair. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

Doesn’t that last image convey the message of a legacy based life? Whether we are focusing on the financially and physically poor of the world, or those around us who are bound up in their broken-heartedness, the image of our role in strengthening and encouraging others is a powerful one of real transformation. It speaks of our role in aligning with God to help others become oaks of righteousness, a planting for the display of God’s splendor!

What legacy do you want to leave? It is built in our day by day living and how we consider those around us and those around the world. Even if we think we have little, we have really so much to share and to pour into the legacy we leave. Live well today, friends.