Whatever it takes

This week we are in Pa spending some time with friends and family. Yesterday we went to our old church. It was very nice. They had a guest speaker who is a missionary in Africa. His wife has a foundation that helps people with HIV/AIDS.  The speaker talked about being a neighbor.

He told the story of the good  Samaritan .  You know the one, there was a priest, a Levite and a  Samaritan ....no this isnt the opening of a joke. So the priest who obviously loves God cause hes a priest walks down the road and sees a beaten up guy on the side of the road. So he does what any good priest would do he crosses the road and avoids eye contact probably walking faster and faster to get past that asap. Then there was a Levite. Apparently they were known for loving God too. So what did he do? He walked by pretending not to see. Then there was this heathen, I mean Samaritan. Nobody thought they loved God. What did the Samaritan do? Walk past? Nope. They stopped. They helped. They walked back to the trunk of their donkey and looked for things that could help this person. Wine, oil and I forget what else. So the Samaritan picked up the dude and puts him on the donkey and walks beside the donkey into town. He finds an inn, this time there was vacancy not like when Jesus was born. So the Samaritan has to go about his business but still wants to make sure this beat up guy gets helped. He doesnt pass the buck. He pays the innkeeper to watch him for a few days and then he will return and take care of him. So why did the story have a Levite, a priest and a Samaritan? The guest speaker said it was because people would automatically think that the first two would help and the 3rd would not. So we learn not to judge a book by its cover and to be a neighbor.

So back to the speaker.....

He said the way to show God love is to do things for others. God has everything He could ever need or want. We need to be a neighbor, we need to fill a need, we need to be His hands and feet. Yes and Amens were coming from around the church. I wonder though how many really meant them? If the church called you and said we have this 5 year old here with HIV that needs a mom and dad what would you do? Would you advocate? Would you take on that responsibility yourself? Would you financially support someone who would take on the role of helping this child?

Some of you may say "well maybe if the child didnt have HIV because we have to protect our 'real' kids" I would strongly urge you to get educated on the real facts about HIV and how it is transmitted.

So let me change it up a bit....

Church calls...we have this 10 year old girl that needs a family. She has no real health issues and we know you have a spare room and the money to raise another child. What would you do?

When we refuse to care for the least of these we refuse to entertain angels. We refuse to care for Jesus. I thank God that He didnt send His one and only son to die for me so I can have starbucks and have it more abundantly (a friend told me that once and I will never forget it.) This life isnt meant to be all peaches and cream. Where are our crosses we are suppose to pick up daily and carry? The cross shouldnt be all the credit card bills we have that we used to pay for all that stuff to keep up with the Jones'.

So today is memorial day. We honor people who have fought the good fight and have died so we may live. Let's not waste that on starbucks. I urge you to get out there and Be a neighbor. Visit a widow, feed a homeless person, bring a shut in a plate of food, donate to someones adoption, smile at someone, sponsor a child, give a single mom a break, buy someones groceries, pay for someones coffee. Just go do something for someone else. It will make you feel fantastic. Live simply so others may simply live.

How much do you love God? Do you love Him enough to step out and do something for someone who can't repay you?

Be blessed