The purpose of today's post is not to heap a guilt trip on you, but my desire is to open our eyes a little wider to the hurting and oppressed. It's easy to develop an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality toward those who are truly in need. I can definitely plead guilty. But in the last few years I've been asking God to broaden my vision beyond those who are in my immediate periphery and allow me to have His perspective on the world's helpless.
Here are a few websites and articles that may broaden your perspective a bit:
http://www.om.org/
http://www.prisonfellowship.org/prison-fellowship-home
http://www.care-net.org/
http://www.joshuaproject.net/
What can I do?
Educate yourself and inspire others.
Spend some time in research in order to find ministries or missionaries who are taking the gospel to the darkest parts of our globe and meeting physical needs in order to reach the lost with the love of Christ. Inspire others in your church family to get involved, perhaps even motivating your church to adopt ministry organizations, by developing a Kingdom perspective that is larger than what you now have.
Cultivate a heart for the oppressed within your children.
Inform your children of the plight of children across the world who are living in poverty-stricken conditions. Prepare them to be open to giving their lives in ministry to the broken and needy. Challenge them to think beyond the "American dream" for their future.
Minister to the needy.
Find ministries, missionaries, persecuted churches, or impoverished people groups to whom you can personally minister or financially support. Prayerfully consider where and how God would have you funnel the abundant amount of resources He's provided you with. Develop a global mindset when it comes to sharing the gospel.
"Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back" (Proverbs 24:11).
"How blessed is he who considers the helpless" (Psalm 41:1).
Inspired?
How will you minister to the hurting today?
Join the Discussion