Megaphone

Usually when I come across a Bible verse or a Biblical truth that the Lord wants me to take notice of, I find that I see the same truth more than once. Maybe I read it the first time in a Bible study I'm doing, and it strikes me as something to take note of... making me "hmmm" a little bit. And then before you know it, my pastor speaks on the same topic the next Sunday... "okay, God, I'm listening". And then, I go on a coffee date with a friend, and she begins to share with me how God is revealing a, b, and c to her and one of those are exactly what the Lord was showing me.... "I HEAR YOU, obviously this is something I need to take note of and learn!!!". I love how this works. I love how God speaks to me through His scripture, pastors, and Godly friends. I love how these truths can become so relevant for me today.

Well, currently the Lord is not only whispering to me in regards to a truth He wants me to know and recognize... He's using a MEGAPHONE right now. "Heather, ARE YOU LISTENING?! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

As I've written before in my "Wrecked & Wondering Posts (part 1 and part 2)", God is doing a work in me regarding my responsibility as a believer for the least of these... especially for orphans and for widows. It began with a friend's post on her blog about "some things she's been thinking about lately"... and was followed up by Facebook links being posted by another friend sharing a random girl's blog about how she's making a difference for the kingdom and for the least of these. Then it snowballed into my own readings, my own pursuit of more information.... and the same message is being told, the same message is being asked of me, "what are you doing for the least of these? Your God cares for them, do you????". I love how the Father confirms things like that... as we pursue truth, He brings it into light.

At church this past Sunday, the message from our pastor continued to confirm the truths I've been shown and convicted of as of late... Dr. Frey focused on Matthew 25:31-46. Here are a few key verses...

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For 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, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Dr. Frey challenged us for 2010... what is our church body going to do this year to take notice and care for the least of these? When are we going to step outside of casual Christianity and truly mimic our Savior's example. This passage talks about the sheep who will inherit the kingdom, these sheep did something. (Yes, we are saved by Grace, but once the Holy Spirit is living within us, we should produce fruit.) They didn't wait for someone else to make a difference, they took responsibility. The sheep had the behavior of the shepherd! The sheep follow the shepherd's lead by caring for the least of these. That is our calling as believers!

Needless to say, the Lord isn't whispering to Mrs. McGoo right now, He's using a MEGAPHONE. And He's asking me, "are you listening?!" And the real question is... will I be obedient?

I don't want this conviction, this need and desire to serve the least of these, spread the word, and to do something for the kingdom to fade. I do not want it to be just a "fad" of the moment. Rather, I'm seeing relevant truths as to what God is calling His believers to be responsible about, and I can't get away with how frequently He testifies to those truths in His Word. He didn't just say it once... He has said it over and over in the Word. In the book I'm reading, When God Stood Up: A Christian Response to AIDS in Africa, within three pages of James Cantelon's text he presents fifteen (15!) scripture verses referencing God's care and concern for the least of these, and therefore a believer's calling to do the same. I'd be happy to share those verses with you, if you're interested.

It's been awesome to see how God is moving on the hearts of others around me regarding this kind of stuff. I am thankful for those walking the same journey. I cannot wait to see what God is going to continue to do in 2010 and how He'll stir things up! James 1:27