Over 1 billion not served.

Can you imagine how that would look hanging below the golden arches?  A broadcast that 1 billion people worldwide are going hungry.  An announcement that in the time it takes you to read this short devotional, several children will have died from malnutrition.

McDonald’s might not be announcing it, but it is real nonetheless.  It’s a statistic that shocks me to the core, but in my complacency and comfortable life I prefer it to remain just that: a statistic. 

I do my part, I try convincing myself.  I give to global missions and support a few children around the world.  That’s enough, isn’t it?  Not to the child who just died.

I give out of my abundance, but there is one who gave so selflessly that it leaves me speechless:

Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, ‘The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!"  Luke 21:1-4, The Message

Where are you on that scale?  Do you give offerings?  If so, will you ever miss them, or, do you give your all?

I hope that as we drive by McDonalds, we will be reminded of the plight of 1 billion people worldwide.  I also pray that our faith will be accompanied by actions to stop this worldwide emergency.

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”  James 2:17, emphasis mine

If you are so moved, here are just a few suggestions of ways in which you can help alleviate hunger.

Sponsor a child through Compassion International or World Vision.  Give a microloan at Kiva.org.

Two unlikely lives intersect in Luke 8.

A father and leader of the synagogue, Jarius’ only daughter lay on the brink of death. Being well entrenched in the religious community, Jarius was certainly aware of Jesus’ disintegrating reputation with religious elite. Desperate, however, he disregarded the boiling tensions and approached the One he believed could save his 12-year-old daughter.

At the same time, surrounded by a thick crowd pressing in for their own piece of the action, Luke says an unknown woman reached through the crowd and grabbed the hem of Jesus’ garment. We aren’t told much about her; not even a name. But we know she’d been sick for as many years as Jarius’ daughter had been alive. Weary of searching for answers from the outskirts of society without result, she approached Jesus as her own last resort.

A named religious leader. And an nameless social outcast. One with 12 years of joy about to be taken away. And another with 12 years of suffering begging for relief. And at that moment, two unknown, broken lives crossed at an unlikely intersection: the feet of Jesus.

When living divides us, our brokenness unites us. It is when the walls come down and our status dissolves that we find commonality at the feet of Jesus. Named or nameless, we come empty handed, holding out for hope.

Both fell under the shadow of Jesus’ hem. Jewish leaders typically wore twisted, blue tassels on the hem of their garment. Called the “wings,” they served as reminders of God’s commands and the need to follow Him without fail. Jesus’ cloak likely displayed the same tassels. The woman reached for them, and Jairus fell underneath them.

When’s the last time you fell to your knees and reached for the hem of His garment? When’s the last time nothing else seemed to matter aside from catching a glimpse of the One who could save? When’s the last time you were desperate to touch the righteousness of God?

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” ~ Psalm 17:8

“May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” ~ Ruth 2:12

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings … ” ~ Malachi 4:2

October 19, 2009   //   Devotional   //   No Comments   //