Love For The Poor

This summer we have been looking at 1st John and have been challenged to take the 1st John challenge. Reading a chapter of First John each day. We hope that you and your family have been challenged by this series. In the third chapter of 1st John we are challenged to love one another. I will be honest and say that this can be very difficult at times. Sure it is easy to love those who love us, but when it comes to our enemies, that is another story. And found in verse 16, we get another challenge from John.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
We are called to love the poor, the less fortunate, brothers and sisters in need. This weekend our teens are about to experience this firsthand. We are in Waco, Texas about to go through Poverty Simulation. What is that, you may ask. Beginning Friday, possessions as we know it will be gone. We will be poverty stricken. All of our clothes, personal items, money, everything will be taken away. We will have to sleep outside. We will have to find our own food and water. We will be shown a reality that millions are faced with each day. We will be taught the truth of poverty and homelessness in America. Our teens will never be the same.
If we see a brother or sister in need and have no pity on them, how can the love of God be in him? Our students will never pass a needy person again and feel no love or sympathy. This will be our third time to work with the homeless in Waco. I honestly believe that this is an experience that everyone should go through at least once in their life. It changes your outlook on the less fortunate and teaches you the simple things we take for granted. Pray for the students and leaders this weekend as we will be living on the streets of Waco. Pray for the millions of Americans and millions worldwide who do not have a place to call home. Pray that as believers in Christ, we can all have and show more compassion for God's creations who are in need. Pray that we, as the body of Christ, will become less judgemental and apathetic and more loving and compassionate.
How can you begin to show love for those in need?

Brad L.