Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Who is my neighbor?



'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. '
1 John 4:7-11


    Our family recently returned from a time in Tactic, Guatemala, where we had the great joy of partnering with Impact Ministries for approximately 2 weeks.  This wonderful ministry has served this area of Guatemala for over 20 years.  God's love is shown through the many parts of this ministry - raising up families, building safe and supportive schools, agriculture programs, child and classroom sponsorship, church planting, medical clinics/support, and most important through faithful prayer and the preaching of the good news of what Jesus has accomplished for all.     

   Our time in Tactic was full of blessings, spending time with several families that face great struggles, in clinic providing relief to those suffering, worshiping together in the schools, visiting homes for prayer and encouragement, and delivering food and supplies to those who have need.  Each day I was repeatedly reminded of how great the love of God is for His creation - especially each person, as they were each made in His image. 

   God is on the side of the oppressed.  When we lift someone from suffering and oppose systemic injustice, this shows the world what the family of God looks like.  There are both earthly and spiritual forces at work opposing the ministry being done in Tactic.  And thus I'm reminded of how important it is for us to show genuine love by attending to the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors.  When we freely share God's love and truth, we join in what the Lord is doing in the hearts of many. 

JP