It is here again, that day each year that churches of the world are focused on orphans. Adoption and orphan care are very near and dear to our hearts, so I love that this day roles around each year. Last year, we were working hard to save 2 orphans a half a world away. This year, we dedicated those sweet boys, orphans no more! We have seen these once orphans bloom and come alive right before our eyes.
I love orphan Sunday, but I often wonder why do we, as the church, need an orphan Sunday? The Bible is pretty clear about what constitutes pure religion. What does it say for the body of Christ that we can wrap it up in a pretty bow and nice words one Sunday morning a year and then go about our business as usual? Why are there still so many orphans? Why are so few in the church burdened for them?
We brought home 2, but we left behind so many more. Those faces and longing eyes will stay with me forever. While the body of Christ has moved onto the next order of business, thousands upon thousands of those children still wait. I just do not understand. We pray that God will find families for them, and I often wonder if He throws up His arms and says, "I HAVE!!!! They just refuse to see what I have done for them and act!"
I am going to make a lot of people uncomfortable here. I hope that the cute pictures help a little bit. Church, we NEED to rise up! We need to get uncomfortable for the causes that are near to our Savior's heart! We need to quit believing the lie that we are put on this earth to be comfortable! NO WE ARE NOT! That will come for every believer in heaven, but that is not what our time here on this earth is for. We are here to be His hands and His feet. How are we doing? Right now, we are failing miserably. If we are going to call ourselves followers of Christ, then we need to make sure we are following Christ! We get so caught up in looking cute, finding the right boots and accessories for that new skirt. We get caught up in carpet colors and what songs we are gonna sing in the morning service next week. Meanwhile Jesus' heart breaks and thousands of children fade away. I feel so often that the church is a lot like the disciples who shooed the children away to tend to the "important" things. Church, we are supposed to be Jesus' hands and feet. We need to quit seeking the things of this world and BE His hands and feet. Tobi and Jojo are home and bless us beyond belief, but the orphan crisis remains. We all need to fall on our faces, repent, and ask God what we can do. Then we all need to get up and DO it. If you are waiting for a "calling" before you move, here are the very words of God.
Psalm 82:3 "Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and the needy"
James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."
Now, we need to heed the calling, for He has called us all, in His very own words. It is time to be His hands and His feet.
Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
