02/04/2022
We see the poor, and the hungry every day. Some are on the streets begging for money, some are sleeping in doorways, and others just walk past us on the streets. Some are overlooked, but all are lost. What is our reaction to them? Do we turn our faces away, simply pity them, look on them with disdain, or do we give them aid… perhaps a few dollars, a bottle of water, some food, or maybe a place to sleep? The decision we make regarding them can not only change their lives, but can alter ours as well… now, and for eternity.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”
Matthew 25:34-36 ESV
I pray for three men of God each morning that the Lord selected, and brought into my life. I met them at different times, and under various circumstances, and they each have very different, but specific, callings. Pastor Habte evangelizes in the Middle East and Africa, Pastor Fady is similar to Peter in that he builds churches up, but the third is a humble man, and it is he that I want to speak of today. This man is a pastor who is constructing a village for the homeless, hungry, thirsty, sick, and dying. This man has a calling to help the most disadvantaged of God’s children, and in the process he is called to not only enrich their lives, but their faith as well. I want to tell you about Pastor Ian.
One weekend, several years ago, I had been trimming bushes, and pruning trees in my yard, so I borrowed my son’s pickup truck, loaded it to overflowing with the cuttings, and took them to the local dumping station. Once there I drove by the garbage collection station to a large dumpster meant for limbs and leaves where I unloaded my truck. Just as I was finishing up, a large SUV pulled up, and it had a huge pile of large limbs tied on top of it, and the interior was filled with smaller clippings. I watched a rather tall man step out of the vehicle, and I could tell from his sweaty appearance, and the work clothes he wore, that he had been cleaning up his yard, and was tired. He had a certain look about him that my spirit recognized, and I sensed a kindness and humility about him. So I put my gloves back on, walked over to him, and asked if I could help unload his vehicle. At first he declined my offer, but at my insistence, he finally agreed to let me help.
With the two of us working together we were able to unload his limbs quickly, and with the job done he looked at my son’s truck and asked me about the window sticker on it. It was the school emblem of the Virginia Military Institute. I told him that both my son and I had attended there, and in a brief few minutes of conversation I found out his name, that he was a graduate of VMI, had played basketball there, and was now the senior pastor at a local church. Then we shook hands, and went our separate ways.
As I drove home the Lord began to speak to me, and I knew his voice because I had heard it so often. He told me to find this pastor again, and not only speak with him, but to add him to my morning prayers along with Pastor Habte (a story for another day), who I had already been told to pray for each day… for the rest of my life. I was given no reason, just that I was to do this. So I did.
Well, it took some doing but I finally found him mentioned on the internet, went to his church’s web page and there was his email address. So I wrote to him, reintroduced myself, and gave him my contact information. My phone rang a short while later, and it was him. He told me that he had been searching the web for me all morning, and asked if we could meet for lunch.
During lunch he told me that he was a Presbyterian pastor, and that he and his congregation had purchased some property and were preparing to build a village where they would minister to the poor, homeless, sick, mentally challenged, and otherwise disadvantaged. I recognized the calling, and knew the scriptural basis for it. Over the coming months we would have many such lunches, and became friends… and I have been praying for Pastor Ian, and his calling every morning to this day.
“if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
Isaiah 58:10 ESV
Most of us won’t be called to build a village, but all of us are called to help as is detailed in our opening verses from the Gospel of Matthew. We might buy a meal for someone who is hungry, give a bottle of water to a man on a sweltering hot summer day, serve meals at a local food kitchen, or volunteer at a facility that gives shelter to the homeless. In this way we all have answered our calling, and each one of us can build our own miniature village as we do so.
Listen to Isaiah as he tells us of the value gained for ourselves, our churches, and our faith, if we will simply obey the Lord in this regard. Our children will see our example of mercy, and their faith will blossom. Our neighbors, and countrymen will be saved because they will see the kindness, and good, of God, and Jesus Christ in us… we will become the living gospel for them to see, and touch.
“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”
Isaiah 58:11-12 ESV
Let’s open our eyes today, and see where our mercy can join hands with those of God to do His will.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your many blessings, and the mercy you show us every day, but thank you most for the opportunities you present us in which we can join you in showing that same mercy to those around us; your children who need it so desperately. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who desires that none should be lost; not in faith, and not in the world. Help us to deliver your goodness, and kindness, to all in need, so that none will be lost by our inaction, or disobedience to your Word. Praised be your name for the hope, love, and provision we are given by you, and others who hear your voice. Praised be your name for allowing us to serve those less fortunate than ourselves in this way. You are merciful, please teach us how we can demonstrate your mercy in our own lives as we grow in faith, and obedience. Wash us in the blood of Christ, and cleanse our hands of sin as we hand out your mercy. Wash our feet in the living water of Jesus as we prepare to tread this holy ground. We pray to be filled with humility, and be humble as Jesus was humble. In this way pour your grace out in us, and call us worthy in the moment of our judgement. Say you are pleased with us, call us your children, and seat us at your bountiful table forevermore.
“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
Matthew 25:44-46 ESV
Rich Forbes