#hope helpless orphans oppressed jesus jesusfollower redletterchristians

[memoirsofachurchpunk]

Hopes of the Helpless

We’re living in very scary and troubling times. I think that’s probably the only statement we can all agree on.  The rest is up to debate and discussion and posts on social media.  We have all become pundits in our own right. How this happened, I don’t know.  Maybe it was the birth of social media. Maybe it’s the breakdown of the family.  Maybe it’s lack of religious education.  Maybe it’s lack of morality. Maybe it’s the “selfie culture”. Regardless of what has caused the issues we are facing today as a nation, we still have to face the issues! They won’t go away by posting them on Facebook. It just doesn’t work that way.

This morning, I was spending some time in prayer, meditation, and reading of several books, including the Bible.  It’s my favorite time of the day. It’s quiet. I let the light come in through the windows of my room. I light a candle. I turn on instrumental music. The next hour or so is filled with the unexpected.  I always pray that God will reveal Himself to me. I pray that He’ll send me a message that will help me grow and rest in Him that day. This morning was no different. I put my hands on my face and prayed that God would help me be more like Him...that He would use my voice to champion anything He wanted me to. I asked Him to help me speak for those that need a voice. With all the suffering and sorrow we are seeing all over the world, I don’t want to sit idly and only “pray” for the hurting. I want to actively do something that will heal, restore, soothe the hurts and fears of our fellow man.

I was taken to several readings that touched my heart and mind and have given me courage to, not only, lean in...but jump in.  I was reading the January 31 entry in “Bread for Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith” by Henri Nouwen.  The last few sentences caught my attention and gripped my heart. It stated, “True joy is hidden where we are the same as other people: fragile and mortal. It is the joy of belonging to the human race. It is the joy of being with others as a friend, a companion, a fellow traveler. This is the joy of Jesus, who is Emmanuel: God-with-us.”  Isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t truth beautiful? When we hear truth, it’s convicting! We do belong to one another. We are human. We are brothers and sisters. 

Then, I read the interaction Jesus had with His mother and brothers one day when He was preaching (Matthew 12).  He was interrupted by one of His disciples to let him know that His family was outside waiting to speak to Him. Jesus’ answer has always baffled me.  If I had answered that, I would’ve probably gotten into a lot of trouble!  But, Jesus is Jesus.  So, He answered, “Who is mother? Who are my brothers?”  Jesus proceeded to point to those around Him, saying, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Then, it got me to thinking “What is the will of my Father?” 

I may have dived in too much, but here’s what I found:  “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). Then, I read in the Book of James, chapter 1 verse 27: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and reusing to let the world corrupt you.” I was then directed to the Book of Micah.  The people of Israel are constantly abandoning God and His ways.  And He is constantly wooing them back. They keep wondering if sacrifices and burnt offerings will clean the slate. But, God is very clear. He says, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). That prompted me to flip a few books back in the Old Testament to Isaiah. There, God is rebuking His followers for making a show of worship. He calls their celebrations and festivals and parades “meaningless, sinful, and false”. He literally can’t stand them. What does He tell them to do? “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (Isaiah 1:17).  

I’ll end with what prompted me to even go down this path.  It was what I read this morning in my Bible reading plan.  The passage is found in the book of Psalms. The writer pleads, “Lord, You know the hopes of the helpless. Surely You will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them” (Ps. 10:17-18).

My hope and prayer today, and till the end of time, is that we will be broken by the hopes of the helpless.  I pray that our hearts and ears and eyes will see and hear and feel the cries of the orphans and the oppressed.  I pray, with everything I am and have, that mere people will no longer terrify them.  May we be those people to the hurting in this world.  May we step up now! May we step in now! May we be the Church that the world desperately needs. May we love and serve and restore until our last breath.  May we empty ourselves of our selfishness and self-righteousness and give abundantly. May we love lavishly and extravagantly. May our presence in this world leave behind a sweet Fragrance. Now.

#memoirsofachurchpunk #hope helpless orphans oppressed jesus jesusfollower redletterchristians