This is the World Race for me, summed up in a way I couldn't find the words to say, but God's word articulates beautifully. Matthew 25: 35-45 says this:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ "
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"Since God cares about people to this depth, we have a moral, biblical obligation to do the same. when we enter the Kingdom of God, we join a family. our whole world changes. the things we used to care about don't matter so much. instead, we are privileged to care about the things God cares about. what matters to Him matters to us. there's nothing more important on God's agenda than caring for the sick and the hurting, the poor and the orphan. there's nothing more rewarding than giving our lives to those who need the most help…according to matthew 25, He's not 'like' the poor. He is the poor…when we do these things, we do them to Him. following Christ is all about helping the outcast. He's serious about it. those who ignore the needs of the hungry, the prisoner, and the orphan will have to give an account for their behavior one day. apparently, God's not going to think very well of them. in just a few paragraphs where Jesus talked about Heaven, He told us everything we need to know about how to live our life today. He told us what's high on God's priority list. at the end of our lives, at the end of this age, He will ask one important question of us: 'How well did you take care of the people I love?'
Richard Rohr says it like this, 'I would say that if you only think about Jesus, "believe" in Jesus, and believe things about jesus, not much new is going to happen. it is the risk of acting like Jesus acted {and being like Jesus was} that reconfigures your whole soul.' {"From Wild Man to Wise Man"} "
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So my questions shouldn't be "what exactly will i be doing out there?" or "how uncomfortable will i be?" or "how much will i learn and grow and experience and get to take photos of?", but rather "what if i don't go? how will that affect the Kingdom?" "what do I have to lose when His people have everything to gain?", and "If Jesus says 'GO', why wouldn't I go?"
This solidifies that all reasoning behind me going isn't my own, but His and His provision.
Whether it's hard and sweaty and I have little to no support from friends and loved ones, the person I answer to is my Father in Heaven. If He has called me to the Nations to care for His people, the very least of these who have yet to hear of His amazing Love, I would be a fool to not be obedient.
Here's to many great stories and an abiding Love that will transcend the way I think and feel about God and the world He created and the people who inhabit it. This is my journey on The World Race, and I'd love it if you'd join me in spirit, and let me GO as your ambassador?
{Email me for more details on how YOU can help support this mission.}
With His Love,
Suzy
