“Not everyone is your brother or sister in the faith, but everyone is your neighbor, and you must love your neighbor.”~ Tim Keller
What is the purpose of faith? What is the purpose of the church? What is the goal of a 501C3? If your answer is to help “others,” you would be correct. Faith and love have one job, to be of maximum service to the people in need throughout the world, especially those living marginalized and oppressed lives. We are all God’s kids and created in the image of God. When we serve others in need, we are serving God in the flesh.
If we study the Bible or any literature grounded in spirituality, we quickly learn that such literature’s cornerstone is love. Love is a verb we must express, and love is expressed through action. When we put love into action, we discover our faith’s purpose: to live a life centered around love and service. True love and kindness in the world equate to spiritual solidarity. Spiritual solidarity means that we stand in solidarity with people in need regardless of our religion, faith, tradition, or beliefs. We must stand in solidarity with those in need not because they deserve it but because they need it.
The Creator of the world is a God of love. God is the ultimate expression of love, and God’s essence is righteousness, justice, and peace (shalom). God calls on people of faith to carry out God’s love by standing in spiritual solidarity with God’s children who desperately need God’s love in their lives. We represent God with skin, and we indeed may be the only expression of God they ever experience. God doesn’t bring people together only to bless a few; everyone wins in the world of the Spirit.
Jesus teaches those who have ears to hear a critical lesson on love and service; check it out (Matthew 25:34-40, CEB):
34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
Friends, this is what spiritual justice looks like in the kingdom of God. God calls on us to carry out God’s justice by standing in spiritual solidarity to love and serve those in need. If we refuse, God will deny us. We have free will; we get to choose who we will love and serve. Will we love and serve only ourselves, or will we serve God’s kids, who are truly our siblings and need us now more than ever.
Lord, please grant us the ability to embrace Your desire for spiritual solidarity. Remove from our nature and character all the flaws that cause us to love and serve only ourselves. We want to live a life of love and service, and we know that is only possible if You are dwelling inside us, and we are resting in You. In Your Spirit and Name, we pray these things. May Your will and not ours be always done, now, and forever, Amen.
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