The Bible is full of calls to action. Throughout scripture, God invites his people to pray, serve, and obey. Oftentimes, these actions are focused on meeting the needs of those who find themselves marginalized, as Jesus’ life exemplified. Today, he continues to invite us to love the oppressed and powerless, to seek justice for the widow and the orphan.
Show Hope is a movement to care for orphans, and we believe God has called us to be proactive against the orphan crisis.
Here are four actions the Bible tells us to take:
1. Defend
“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” — Isaiah 1:17
In Isaiah 61:8, God says he loves justice, and he asks us to do the same. He wants us to take action and work to care for children who are living as orphans. Although the statistics associated with the orphan crisis can seem overwhelming—there are more than 140 million orphans in the world, and every 18 seconds, another child becomes an orphan—we must do what we can to defend vulnerable children and encourage others to join with us in this work. Every step taken, no matter how small, can make a difference in the life of a waiting child.
2. Give
“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” — Proverbs 28:27
God’s heart for the poor and powerless is woven into the fabric of the biblical narrative. Several times, the Bible encourages all to give to the poor and needy. Deuteronomy 16:17says, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.”
Sometimes it seems easier to just “shut your eyes” and ignore the brokenness of this world. But God asks you to do the opposite. For you, this may mean collecting and donating extra change or becoming a Show Hope sponsor. Through using the skills God has given you, you can help restore the hope of a family to waiting children.
3. Visit
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” — James 1:27
Sometimes we need to physically see things to realize how important they are. Directly experience the needs of waiting children, whether they’re in your own city or across the world. Offer your heart and talents to serve children in the best way possible, and be open to the work of God in your heart as you do.
The New Living Translation of James 1:27 uses the term “caring for” instead of “to visit.” Caring is not a passive term. When we use our time and resources to meaningfully step into the needs of children who have been orphaned, we are following God’s call for the purest form of religion.
4. Help
“I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper.” — Job 29:12
Every person might not be called to adopt, but every person is called to do something. If God has placed adoption on your heart, don’t ignore the call! Take action! Maybe this means you should begin the adoption process. Maybe you should research opportunities to provide foster care in your own community, or support those who do. Maybe God is calling you to get involved in caring for children through sponsorship and prayer.
God has uniquely gifted each of us to make a difference for good in the lives of others. Ask him to show you the ways he is calling you, and don’t hesitate to follow where he leads.
Article written by: Show Hope See more adoption articles at: http://showhope.org/