A Call to Action

John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Powerful, powerful words. Sharper than any two-edged sword we are told. I read a very interesting article yesterday by a man who took ownership of a Bible passage and made it his life's ambition to allow his decisions and actions to be driven by the Truth in the verse. His was a different passage than the one I have chosen, which is understandable - he is a different person than I am. But as I read his article, I sensed the power of what God was doing in his life and the lives of the people around him and I caught a glimpse of the blessings to come.

I want and need what he is experiencing.

I am owning John 3:17-18 for myself and for The Torch. We are going to become the flesh and blood manifestation of those words. "If anyone has material possessions…" That is me. I have material possessions. I have a lot of material possessions, actually. I'm typing on one now. I have a really nice phone which does far more than make phone calls. I have not one, not two, but three cars. Three. It doesn't matter that I am selling one soon - I have three right now today while I am searching  God's Word. I have clothes, a bed, and furniture. I have more than just material possessions. I have friends. I have family. I have Hope. I have abundance.

"And sees a brother or sister in need…" .I don't have to look far to see people in need. Their needs are varied and great. Some people need food. Some need clothes. Some people need a job. Some need support. Some people need to feel loved. Some people need Hope. It is my duty to look around and see the needs of the people whose lives cross mine. 


There is more to that part of the verse: "And sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" If I can see the needs of the people around me, and clearly I can because I just named several, and I just go on my busy way without regard for those needs, how can the love of God be in me? How can I just let pain and suffering and heartache and worry roll off my back if I really love God and I really want to become a beacon of hope for others? I can't. In a lot of ways, I have allowed my life to become the same as many other Christians. It is easy to love my brothers and sisters in Christ who take care of themselves and make precious few demands on me. They make me feel loved as well.

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It is far more difficult to look around at other people, strangers even, and ask God to put love in my heart for them. I want to experience true love that makes me desire with everything I have within me to meet their needs. I want  motivation that goes beyond leading a successful organization and that is so deeply ingrained it becomes a driving force behind who I am and how I affect the world around me. 

The passage concludes: "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I want to show the true love of God. I want to be spurred on continuously by a love which burns so deep and hot I constantly listen and watch for needs in the lives of people I can minister to. I want to then move forward with actions that make a difference. I want to show an uncanny love that is not matched here on Earth. I am seeking faith so great it doesn't matter what I give away I know I will never have needs. 

I have hit rock bottom and suffered deeply in this life. I was thrown a few lifelines along the way and they quite often pulled me back to the surface and allowed me to breathe again. If God's love is in me - and I have experienced a deeper, richer existence because it is - I need to stop being afraid to show it. I need to stop looking the other way. 

We need to lead the way in helping, supporting and loving fellow human beings. I have had a deep admiration for Mother Theresa for a very long time. She was a person who went beyond words and speech - she loved with actions and in truth. It is my vision for The Torch leadership and all who get involved with it to learn to do the same. 

It will take baby steps, I think. I challenge you - if you want to be involved with the amazing things that are happening here at The Torch - remove your attention from yourself and place it onto the people around you, not just your immediate friends and family, try to find new people and reach out and help them. And do it no matter what it costs you.  It might cost you some pride, or some money, or some fooTry to help just one person. We will take these baby steps together. I'm listening and watching right now, even as I fly home. 

John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."