If you are watching the world news, you know there are a lot of people without hope today. Depressing events seem to be escalating all the time. The problems facing the world are scary, if you just look at them apart from God. You can see why people are disturbed, anxious, fearful and hopeless. But God offers a hope—a living hope. Jesus Christ said we ought to live by EVERY WORD of God (Matthew 4:4). A true Christian lives by every single word—Old Testament and New Testament. A powerful reminder that we have been called to be involved in God’s work right now. Each of us is called to be the expression of understanding, compassion, and peace that we hope to see more of in the world.
With this in mind, I have chosen to share with you the words from Matthew West’s song “Do Something”. They set the tone for this newsletter:
Woke up this morning. Saw a world full of trouble now.
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down? How’s it ever gonna turn around?
So I turned my eyes to Heaven. I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of: People living in poverty. Children sold into slavery.
The thought disgusted me. So, I shook my fist at Heaven.
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?” He said, “I did, I created you.”
If not us, then who? If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something.
If not now, then when will we see an end? To all this pain.
It’s not enough to do nothing. It’s time for us to do something!
I’m so tired of talking…About how we are God’s hands and feet. But it’s easier to say than to be.
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves…It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you. But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire. I don’t want a flame, I want a fire!
I wanna be the one who stands up and says “I’m gonna do something”
We are the salt of the earth. We are a city on a hill.
But we’re never gonna change the world…By standing still
No we won’t stand still! No we won’t stand still! No we won’t stand still!
I believe God is calling us to move from standing still to being involved in declaring his message of hope and peace to a hurting world. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” If not us, then who? If not now, then when?
Your Brother in the Lord,
Pastor Vitali
[pullquote align=”normal”]My prayer: No matter your circumstance or the state of nations, give thanks to God. Attest to all His blessings. Stand strong. Then, intercede for those in need, those who have turned their backs on God and those who have never been told of God…that they might come to know the truth of His faithfulness. Amen [/pullquote]