It Takes Action, Not Just a Decision, April 1

Friday, April 1

Matthew 25:40: And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

We have centered our efforts for 2022 on the theme of “Choose Love, Choose Hope.” What an incredible stance to take when it feels like we are all alone. The challenges of the world seem overwhelming and often I hear people wondering if they even matter or if they can make a difference.

Jesus came into the world at a time of tremendous discord. He not only chose love and chose hope, He demonstrated this consistently in all that he revealed to us. I try to imagine the hopelessness and fear of the disciples not knowing what the future held. They lacked courage and they lacked faith and lived in isolation. That is, until the risen Christ came upon them. They believed and the Holy Spirit was upon them. What happened next is where we find ourselves today. However, we must make the jump to not just choose Love and choose Hope, but to put it into action as God commanded us.

The love and hope we all seek is right before our eyes, if we draw on that same Holy Spirit that was breathed into the early disciples. You see they entered the world not focusing on their own needs or circumstances, but on the mission Christ put before them. They were to be the delivery system of Love and Hope into the world, just as we are being asked to do today.

Yes, we are all broken to a degree but certainly God knows what we need. As we become the answered prayer for others through our action, what makes you think your own individual needs would not be met? It is certainly possible to be each other’s answered prayer if we choose love and choose hope and then ACT on it with the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us.

The risen Christ is counting on us to deliver on these decisions. Matt 25:40: The King will answer and say to them, “truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the LEAST of them, you did it to me.” That sounds like a bit more than a decision. If anything, that is a call to action.

There was a time in my life when pretty much all hope was gone, and I wasn’t feeling the love that I’ve since found in Christ. A group of strangers became my answered prayer. Their actions changed the course of my life. I’ve tried numerous times to repay them, but the answer was always the same. Turn your troubles to God and immediately turn your attention to someone you can help. Essentially, choose love and choose hope and become that answered prayer for someone else. My dad always shares what his grandmother told him, In everything, therefore treat people the same way you want them to treat you (Matthew 7:12). What a novel concept in this world.

My prayer for all of us as we accept the call to be love and hope would be: Father, thank you. Forgive my lack of faith and trust in you. Thank you for showing us love and life win. Raise up the Holy Spirit within us and send us to be your vessels of Love and Hope in the world. Give us strength and courage to be there for all your people. May we each hear and see ways we can reduce suffering in the world by being your servant. May we strive to all be one as you would have us be. Amen