Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
“May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of my clothes and if I do not welcome them into my home.”
Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390).
Our human tendency is to distance ourselves from danger and isolate ourselves from difficulty. It’s natural. But in our journey with Jesus, we must taste the supernatural. On this note, I would like to share three supernatural benefits linked to the privilege of serving hurting people in wartime.
Firstly, today’s Scripture reveals to us that laying down our lives for others (or at least putting ourselves in mortal danger to serve them) is the greatest expression of Christian love. There is no more Christlike act, for this marks exactly what He did. He laid down his life for us. It’s both really hard and really good.
Secondly, moving toward brokenness (and not away from it) teaches us priceless lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom or by watching a Youtube video. You discover experientially that pouring yourself out results not in becoming empty but rather enriched in unspeakable ways. We experience despair and deliverance in real-time.
Thirdly, it changes our mindset about future stewardship decisions. We start to see why Jesus taught what he taught on money. We cannot fathom making materialistic decisions when people around us have insufficient food, drinking water, and/or shelter. To be indigent, refers not just to lacking basic necessities but lacking a home.
On this note, in collaboration with Sasha Volyanyk (who has served more than two decades with YWAM and also serves as GTP Country Coordinator for Ukraine), GTP has launched Ukraine: Project Tiny Houses. Click to learn more. Work with your church or small group to pool together $7,500 to build a home for an IDP (internally displaced person).