After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
“We should ask ourselves in our prayer today whether we know how to love everybody who crosses our path in this life, whether we have a real concern for their misfortunes, a concern that leads us to act in an effective way; thus, when we come out to our daily examination of conscience we will find in the course of it that we have many acts of charity and of mercy we can offer to God…
And just as God’s love is not simply an emotion or feeling, but something that leads our Lord to perform deeds that show it, so our love for our neighbor has to be a love that shows itself in deeds… The opposite to this, namely the seeking of material goods as the most important thing for oneself and for others, is proper only to pagans or to those Christians who have allowed their faith to grow lukewarm, so that, in fact, it has very little influence on their daily lives.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3 (London: Scepter, 1990) 544-545.
Today’s Scripture pivots from walking in the steps of Jesus in the Gospels to a verse from Revelation that reveals the impact of our missional living, giving, serving, and loving. People from “every nation, tribe, people and language” will come to know the Jesus we serve and spend eternity with Him.
Texts like this remind us of the big picture. When we engage in God’s global work supporting ministries like GTP or others, we help people come to know Christ, to have their robes washed in the blood of the lamb. And the ironic part is that we never even meet these people from all over the world.
In this post, Fernandez reminds us that it was the love of God in Jesus that led him to “deeds that show God’s love” toward neighbors. I researched that when Jesus met this woman from Nain, it came at the moment of completing 30 miles of travel from Capernaum. This inspired me to look for opportunities when I am act my weakest or after long trips.
Speaking of 30. GTP had 446 givers in 71 countries last year but only 30 monthly givers. A major foundation, that looks at our metrics and impact and that is considering a second major gift that would add 2-3 staff wants to see more monthly givers. We are praying for 100. Will you step up and become a monthly giver to GTP? Click here to give monthly.
And I have a special treat today to inspire you. My daughter, Sophie, works for Wycliffe Bible Translators. She serves on a team that developed 7-day devotional called “Dare to Live Generously” for free download here. Check it out. Read it with family or friends. I just got it yesterday, started it, and was touched to see her name in day one. You have to read to find out what she said.
What I can tell you is that when we taught her to do “deeds that show God’s love” she did not figure it out until she did them the impact they would have on her life and the trajectory on which it would send her to. Perhaps go back and read today’s post again to conclude and ask God what acts of charity and mercy He may have in store for you.
My advice is to serve and support a portfolio of things God cares about. For service, maybe start with groups like the poor, the sick, or the next generation needing some coaching to serve God in church or ministry work. And rather than grow your material goods like the pagans (as Fernandez put it), grow your monthly giving to your local church, GTP, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and others.