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“And this is true and pure religion, to look after the orphans and widows.”
[James 1:27]
We live in a generation where no matter where you go in this world, there is a surplus of orphans and widows. And specifically, individuals that do not have a voice to stand up for something like freedom when we toss it around like a frisbee. There are men, women, and children that are alone, silenced, and without a choice of liberty.
Did you know in southern Italy there are hundreds, if not thousands of individuals forced into sex trafficking? As you drive down the highways, from city to city, you see African men and women on the side of the road, dressed in such a way to lure the eye. Sitting in the dirt or on a bucket near a fire, trying to keep warm. You look. You can’t help but stare into their eyes, see their faces filled with anguish as they look scarred.
Broken, forgotten, alone.
Most of these individuals did not make the choice to sell their bodies. They were either lied to by some promise of “Receiving a better life” or told they were going to be given a job “To help provide for their family”. Sitting there you might think, how can someone be so naive, but for a moment, i want you to place yourself in their view.
Poverty. Famish. Barely making it day by day to feed their family, not knowing where the next meal might come from. Having no security in a job, if they even have a job. And someone that appears to be of high esteem offers them an ‘opportunity’ in Italy.
They say, ‘you will have a better life for you and your family’ and little do they know, they were just sold.
Most of us have been given a choice of freedom, to go as we please and believe what we want and the focus is, me, me, me. Can i challenge you today to step out of your comfort zone and do something to help the people around you. i know for most, its not possible or realistic to pick up and move to Africa, but what i do know is there are dying and hurting people right where you are at. These people need G-d and they need our love. Take some time to strike up a conversation with that homeless man you see from time to time and hear his story. Give up a night in the next few weeks and volunteer at a soup kitchen. This Christmas season, donate some toys to impoverished families and write a few letters reminding these people how special they are. And above anything else, pray. Pray for these people in America, pray for these individuals around the world forced in to sex trafficking, pray for freedom, and pray for those of us who are going, that we would be given favor, safety, and that G-d’s love and hope would shine through everything we say and do.
Prayer DOES change situations, lives, and circumstances.
“You might be the only physical display of Jesus that someone might see.”
