Freely We Have Recieved

		God of Justice

Freely We have Received...

My help comes from the Lord…

Day after day we rise up from sleep to look out on a world that exists in great turmoil. We may have peace in our homes and in our own hearts, but people all around us are suffering. How can we help them? How can we touch their lives for good?

A man may give a gift. A woman may do and say kind things. But the need of every human soul is God Himself. What is human life on this planet without the Lord who made us? What is any life without the God who saves us?

Homes are breaking apart. Precious lives are being crushed. Men, women and children in our community and in our world are facing burdens too heavy to carry alone. Innocent hearts are learning too early that life is cruel and without meaning. The darkness reaches out to fill every human heart with despair and hopelessness.

We ourselves were once there. And even now we are still visited by tragedy and sorrows, so long as we walk this earth. But we who know the Lord have a hope, a help, a light and a voice to follow. We are comforted in our loss, and lifted up in the storm to a safe place.

And with the hope we have, the comfort that we ourselves enjoy, we are also able to help others. God is our refuge and strength. The Lord is our good and caring Shepherd, our Father, our Savior. He rescues all who call upon Him. And we are able to point others to His salvation, to His mercies and comfort. We can help teach those who have no hope to trust in the Lord.

In myself, I am nothing. I cannot save a single human soul.

I have no power to heal a broken heart, or to make blinded eyes see the perfect light of God. But I can share the truth I have learned. I can share my own heart and life. I can offer others the love that the Lord has shown me. I can tell what I know.

As a fellow human being, I can be as one beggar who tells another beggar where to find bread. And I have discovered the Bread that comes down from heaven. I have discovered the living Bread that is Jesus Christ our Lord.

In feeding the multitudes, Jesus worked through those who already knew Him. The Lord gave the bread and fish to His disciples, and they in turn spread it around to all who were hungry. Everyone ate of the blessed food. And all were satisfied.

It works the same today. Let's take what we have received from God and share it freely with others. The Lord who helps us will also help the people all around us who need Him.

My confidence is in the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. Because the Lord is good to me, I have real hope. Because God is faithful, I can sing even when life is hard. Because God is true, I will rejoice all the days of my life.

For me, the Scriptures say it best.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:13,14

And now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in You. Psalms 39:7

Sing to the LORD, bless His name;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:2