In 2012, I came to Africa for the first time. I was so excited to get to experience African culture and I very quickly fell in love. As long as I could remember I had always wanted to come to Africa and work among the remote villages. During those three months in East Africa, I had so many opportunities to visit orphanages and children’s homes and I just couldn’t get enough! I was blessed to get to spend time just loving them, getting to know them, and reminding them that they matter. They are special and made in the image of God; as we all are. God SEES them and has a plan for their life (Jeremiah 1:5 & 29:11). In the same way, WE often need that reminder as well. We are SEEN by God. We matter! Regardless of your past or what your natural family life looks like, your identity is IN Christ. It is in HIM that we find out WHO we are.
While in Africa, I came across a verse in John 14. To this day it is still marked with a date, 12/09/2012, and the words “AFRICA” underneath it. It is fitting to share it now as I am here in Africa once again seeking opportunities to love people and shine the light of Christ in the dark places.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you.” John 14:15-18
As children of God, through our relationship with Christ, the Spirit of truth has been given to US! We KNOW Him and He dwells IN us and WITH us. We are NOT alone and we are NOT orphans. We have a place in the Kingdom. We have an identity in Christ. He promises us that He will not leave or forsake us. You are not forgotten. We always have a place at the Father’s table. We are welcome in His house. We keep His commandments, not out of obligation, but out of LOVE. Our love for the Father should guide our every action. Of course we will still fall short, but the love of the Father should overflow from our hearts from our intimacy with Him.
We have not been left alone in this world. Jesus says that we WILL have tribulation and hardships, but Christ has already overcome the world. (John 16:33) He seals the promise for us to be welcomed into the family of God. We are heirs with Christ. We are children of the most High God. We have received the Spirit of adoption! (Romans 8:14-17)
THAT is something to celebrate and rejoice in today. We belong to HIM! His Kingdom is NOT of this world and neither are WE. (John 18:36). We belong to a Kingdom that is unseen, but not hidden. The Kingdom of God is WITHIN us. (Luke 17:21). I pray that we will all have little reminders from Heaven today as we serve and love God wherever we are right now!
(Camp life with Higher Ground in Durban, South Africa! AMAZING!!)
