by Mark Schumacher
Barb and I read a news article last Fall that grabbed our hearts and did not let go. After each of us read it, we both shared immediately, “we cannot allow this to happen.” The story shared the unthinkable challenge many Afghan families were facing when they could not pay bills owed to local landowners or merchants – selling their children. Fortunately, when we investigated with the author and were directed to a group that was trying to help, we found we were part of a large group of people who also felt they had to help.
Thankfully, in the case we read, involving an eight-year old girl whose mother was grief stricken with such a prospect, financial help from hundreds of people would allow for a payment to go to the person who was prepared to take the little girl as payment. The financial help provided also was changing the previously bleak prospects of many families to ones of hope and security for their children.
This situation reminds me of the role we all have to reach a world that is destined to much worse than even the unthinkable destination these children faced – that of eternity in Hell without God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19 NIV – “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” Once we have accepted Jesus’s free gift of salvation and the promise of life eternal with Him, we are to share this news with others. Of course, this happens as we allow God to use us in the power of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 13: 15-16 NIV says, “…let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others.”
As with the Afghan children I cannot imagine being sold, even more so, I cannot imagine dear ones I love or people God places along my path in life being subject to an eternity with Satan instead of a glorious and joyful eternity with God in His beautiful kingdom. As believers, we have so much to be thankful for as we celebrate this Easter season. We are reminded of all that Jesus endured for us, His indescribable love for us, His resurrection from the dead, and the promise He offers of eternal life with Him. We have a story to tell – who He is and what He has done for us!
Let that gift, promise, and hope encourage and inspire us to willingly carry a burden for those around us. May we be available to go where God wants to send and use us. And by serving and loving others as He leads us, let us be open to sharing the message of Jesus from His Word, as the Spirit leads and empowers us.
Dear Lord, allow each of us to willingly commit ourselves to your leading. Show us the people you would have us love on, serve and share your message of Jesus Christ with today and each day you want to use us. It is in the redeeming and powerful name of your son, Jesus Christ that we ask this. Amen.