A few weeks ago, I was talking with a Pastor in Guatemala who survived massive flooding in his area. He said that the rain came so quickly, he only had time to fill a suitcase with clothes for his children and escape with his family before the mountain turned into a giant mudslide. But then his story became even more remarkable. After ensuring that his family was safe, he purposely went back into the area of danger to rescue anyone else he could find who needed help.
So here is a summary of the situation: a man and his family avoid possible death; their home and everything they own is potentially destroyed; and there is no immediate help to receive food, shelter, clothing, medicine, or other supplies. In the face of these circumstances, this young Pastor decides his highest priority is to return to the disaster area with no resources of his own, and risk his life to save others.
In John 15:12-13, Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” America is obviously in a stage of economic crisis. Whether we feel the impact today, or months from now, times are indeed tough. However, has God called us to wait until everything in our lives is perfect before we act? What about giving our lives to people who are not necessarily our friends? This young Guatemalan Pastor was not looking for his friends. He was looking for anyone who needed help. The mission field is full of people who are in desperate need of Jesus, and for most of them, having a local church or government agency help them is totally unheard of. What will you do to reach the lost?
