Matthew 10:5-8
Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In May 2006, Greg and I “adopted” a then-5-year-old child in Ghana. We have financially sponsored Kojo - and corresponded with him - for the last ten years. We’ve received photos and information to help us understand his culture, assess his needs, and keep up with his progress. We have also had “offers” from Compassion International, the host agency for this sponsorship, to visit our “son.”
Here’s the thing…it would cost each of us thousands of dollars to visit Kojo in Ghana. At best, we would probably have ONE DAY with him personally. The rest of the trip would be spent touring Ghana and learning about Compassion’s efforts there. Would it be a wonderful experience to meet this now-16-year-old boy…to hold him close, hug him and tell him in person how much we have grown to love him? Absolutely! Would it be worth nearly $10,000? I can’t say it would…and here’s why…I keep thinking of how much that time and money could help others.
Don’t misunderstand me. Countless people do make this trip – or go on other mission trips, and they find them life-changing - for themselves, and hopefully for the people they encounter there. But I look around our community…I assess the children in Timmy and Zola’s classrooms each week…and the hundreds of children in the cafeteria, hallways and on the playground…and I see needs everywhere I turn.
I see children who need to be nurtured and protected…children who are hungry and poorly clothed…children who are dealing with tremendous burdens far beyond their years. I go to visit friends at the nursing home and Assisted Living Facility, and I see lonely, sad people who have no one to visit them or see after them on a regular basis. Yes, their basic personal needs are met…but there is so much more to life…and sadly, more than a few people have been dumped in these facilities and forgotten.
I know there are shut-ins, addicts, homeless people, and a segment of our population that operates “on the fringes” and “under the radar”…with needs that go unmet. And I hear Jesus’ words loudly and clearly…”Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.” I hear Him say, “Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons.” I hear Jesus saying, “You can spend your time and money for one day with a child who knows that you love and support him – and that I am with him…or you can reach dozens who have not heard this message.”
In short, we HAVE been treated generously and must live generously. But what we must first determine is our own definition of “generous living.” Will we make a point in some way…or will we make a difference? Will we be so busy looking beyond our borders to a far-off place that we neglect the needs in our own community?
The point is that we can all do SOMETHING to make a difference for God’s Kingdom. With prayerful consideration, we just need to figure out how and where to accomplish this. And a good place to start might be right here in our own back yard.
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In May 2006, Greg and I “adopted” a then-5-year-old child in Ghana. We have financially sponsored Kojo - and corresponded with him - for the last ten years. We’ve received photos and information to help us understand his culture, assess his needs, and keep up with his progress. We have also had “offers” from Compassion International, the host agency for this sponsorship, to visit our “son.”
Here’s the thing…it would cost each of us thousands of dollars to visit Kojo in Ghana. At best, we would probably have ONE DAY with him personally. The rest of the trip would be spent touring Ghana and learning about Compassion’s efforts there. Would it be a wonderful experience to meet this now-16-year-old boy…to hold him close, hug him and tell him in person how much we have grown to love him? Absolutely! Would it be worth nearly $10,000? I can’t say it would…and here’s why…I keep thinking of how much that time and money could help others.
Don’t misunderstand me. Countless people do make this trip – or go on other mission trips, and they find them life-changing - for themselves, and hopefully for the people they encounter there. But I look around our community…I assess the children in Timmy and Zola’s classrooms each week…and the hundreds of children in the cafeteria, hallways and on the playground…and I see needs everywhere I turn.
I see children who need to be nurtured and protected…children who are hungry and poorly clothed…children who are dealing with tremendous burdens far beyond their years. I go to visit friends at the nursing home and Assisted Living Facility, and I see lonely, sad people who have no one to visit them or see after them on a regular basis. Yes, their basic personal needs are met…but there is so much more to life…and sadly, more than a few people have been dumped in these facilities and forgotten.
I know there are shut-ins, addicts, homeless people, and a segment of our population that operates “on the fringes” and “under the radar”…with needs that go unmet. And I hear Jesus’ words loudly and clearly…”Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.” I hear Him say, “Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons.” I hear Jesus saying, “You can spend your time and money for one day with a child who knows that you love and support him – and that I am with him…or you can reach dozens who have not heard this message.”
In short, we HAVE been treated generously and must live generously. But what we must first determine is our own definition of “generous living.” Will we make a point in some way…or will we make a difference? Will we be so busy looking beyond our borders to a far-off place that we neglect the needs in our own community?
The point is that we can all do SOMETHING to make a difference for God’s Kingdom. With prayerful consideration, we just need to figure out how and where to accomplish this. And a good place to start might be right here in our own back yard.
©2016 Debbie Robus
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