Friday, January 15, 2010

Beloved, see how they love one another...

Love is often portrayed with smiles and laughter, happy times and getting along. I suppose that is one form of love but I am not so sure that smiles were the great power that caused a world to notice Christians so long ago. The love that Scripture speaks of is love that reveals itself in mercy. It is our willingness to identify with the poor and needy, to carry their burden as our own, that is powerful and effective in a world so filled with self-centeredness and insulation from the troubles of another. This is, after all, the mark of God's love for us -- mercy upon the sinner, mercy upon the rebel who runs away, mercy upon the dying, mercy upon the children to be seen but not heard, mercy upon the adulterer caught in the act, mercy upon leper who expected distance...

Our nation is a generous one to those who suffer disaster throughout the world. Christians should be leading this effort. Lutherans should be witnessing the Gospel through the mercy shown to those in suffering. Haiti presents us with an opportunity to be merciful. This is a poor country, not so far from our borders, and there are Lutheran Pastors and teachers, Lutheran parishes and schools, Lutheran men, women, and children who suffer with all the rest. Mercy knows no distiction -- it applies to all... but let this become for us an opportunity to demonstrate to the Haitians the mercy we have received from God...

Give to one of the recognized agencies -- I recommend LCMS World Relief! To find out materials that describe the need and our response, you can go to the Haiti web page of LCMS World Relief and Human Care. For a list of specific donations and where to send them, go to my friend Will Weedon's blog.

It is time to let mercy speak the Gospel, to claim the need of the these brothers and sisters as our own, and to show them the love that will not let us go...

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