“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” -Paul (Ephesians 4:2)
I’m back on my feet again, since this past Monday. God healed me! It’s been awesome to be a part of the ministry to the homeless here in Penang, Malaysia.
This is the Kawaan Center, where the homeless of Penang, come to eat breakfast and lunch. There is a loft upstairs where they can sleep under a clean and secure shelter for a couple of hours. There are also showers, where they can rejuvenate themselves, and wash off the filth they accumulate from living on the streets.
This is Nigel. He is a mentally challenged homeless man…He has a heart of gold. And he’s my friend.
While I was at the center, thoughts started filling my head, and tears started filling my eyes. I was thinking about the millions of homeless people all over the world, what their stories are, and if us Christians are doing our part in caring/providing opportunities for them?
God, despite my stubborness and pride, showed me, just a few years ago, that I’m called to the fight against the sex trade. I was stuck in my own selfish world for so many years before that. The scary thing, was that I thought I was being effective to others. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn’t..but I do know for sure, I was more concerned with my own personal agenda than fighting for someone’s right to even have an agenda.
But the thought came to me “What about the other injustices that we are just letting slip us by? The ones we are simply turning our heads from?” “There is so much need in this world, is the body of Christ truly doing all we can to meet the needs?”
I read a squadmate’s blog yesterday. It only confirmed the conviction God was placing in my heart. http://natalieswartzendruber.theworldrace.org/?filename=nearing-the-end .
Traveling around the world, we have seen so much.. my other squadmate, http://tommysullivan.theworldrace.org/?filename=why-do-i-beleive-what-i-beleive-pt-1 , has a detailed blog, that will paint quite a few disturbing images of some of these things. Perhaps they will stir something in your heart that says “this just isn’t right!”
Last night, I went to a worship/intercessory prayer night, at a House of Prayer that was started here in Penang.
Please, hear my heart in this.. I am most definitely not judging, or condemning, or trying to make anyone feel guilty.. but this is what is going on in my life.. and I want to share what is so heavy on my heart.
During the prayer meeting, I just had this overwhelming ache and burden for believers around the world.. For us to RISE UP and live a life worthy of the calling that God has called us to.
I just kept on praying that God would give us the vision to get out of our own little bubbles and selfish agendas, and see the DESPERATE need around the world.. around the U.S… around our own backyards.
As you know, my right foot was out of commission for a week, and though one may think that it wouldn’t affect a whole body.. it does.
My right foot hurt when I walked on my heel, so I had to walk on the ball of my foot. I had to put more weight onto my left leg. I injured my left knee, 3 years before, and it would start to ache because of the pressure I was putting on it. Not only that, but my right knee was slightly bent every time I tried to get around, which made it feel really sore. And above all. I wasn’t able to function effectively and fully.
Are you an out of commission right foot? Or a healthy one?
Do you understand, that the calling God has placed on your life is affecting the entire body of Christ… all over the world?
On the other hand, it can very well also be debilitating the effectiveness of the fight, against the social injustices, that God has called us to be His hands and feet for.
What in the world is holding you back from following the calling God has placed in your life to change the world for His glory?
Is it finances, a relationship, stability, society’s cultural norm, an addiction, unforgiveness, fear, pride, clothes, money, a career, success from an American viewpoint, etc… the list goes on and on…
What is it that is taking God’s place in our hearts?
I pray that God’s Spirit will not let any of us rest until our hearts are beating for, and passionately pursuing the things that God is passionate for… Love, hope, salvation, righteousness, and justice.
Do you have to go overseas to do that!? NO!
You can very well do it in the career you have right now…by using the talents God has given you, by the circle of influence you have, the resources you have, the income you have accumulated… none of us can put God in a box.
But would you be willing to go anywhere He asks you to go, and do anything he asks you to do? May God give us the strength to say yes, and the will to obey.
When even one body part isn’t doing it’s part, the entire body cannot be fully effective..
There is SOoooooo much need in the world..
You don’t need to be called.. the need IS the calling.
Get alone time with God, find out what part He has called you to be, and go for it! You’re part is so crucial, whether it be a voice, giftings and talents, prayer support, financial support, or a whole other path of life…
Paul is begging us, (someone who begs is desperate, they have no shame, they are at the mercy of the other person’s will, at their ropes end) to live a life worthy of that calling.
His desperation is calling out to our complacency.. may God give us the revelation we need to see the state of the world…and may that “revelation call us to action”- Josh Yeoh from Penhop.
May our hearts be distraught until we have peace in the calling God has led us to.. no matter where it leads us.
“… we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and
more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its
own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body
is healthy and growing and full of love.” -Ephesians 4:15-16
For the sake of the hurting, oppressed, and outcast in this world… be healthy..be full of love…and move…
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
