Since the announcement of the first Ebola patient within the US, my heart has been deeply burdened. Not so much because it is now so close to home (though that is troubling.) No, my heart is burdened for a much more serious reason. I am deeply burdened because I was NOT burdened before its entry into the US. The thousands of cases and deaths in West Africa were of no concern to me. For that I am shamed.
The ISIS crisis. The Ebola crisis. The Russia/Ukraine war. While noting these with sadness, I was not burdened and felt no compulsion to help in any way. Not even to pray.
At home, I worry about the laundry and the dishes and building the woodshed. Painting the kitchen. Installing a new fireplace insert. Fighting with my daughter over disobedience. Arguing with my husband over misunderstandings.
Prayer time consists of grace at meals. Bible study restricted to weekly Sunday school, reading the lesson in the car on the way to service.
If ISIS came to my door tomorrow, would I have the conviction to stand firm? If I contracted Ebola tomorrow would I trust God is in control?
Not with such weak faith as this. So focused on the details of my own life. Never reaching out to friends and neighbors because I have to get all my stuff in line first. Not even taking the time to pray for them or for the world.
Forget the dishes. Drop the vacuum. And by all means, stop the fighting. None of it will matter when death comes to the door.
Fall on your knees and pray. Pray for friends. Pray for strangers. Pray for international crisis. For broken hearts and broken souls. Pray for your enemies. For the world. For the hungry homeless children. For the powerful politicians. For the sinners and the saints.
Pick up the Bible and read. Really read. Study. Cry. Open your heart to the Holy Spirit. To Jesus Christ. To the Almighty Father.
This world will end for all of us. What will we have to show for it?
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