The situation in East Africa is getting worse. Three more regions have been designated as famine areas. Of course, this does not mean they have suddenly become famine sufferers, only that we have finally noticed that they are suffering from it. No doubt more will follow. As
Pilot Ryan Cuthel notices, on the ground it seems to be getting worse and worse and the main feeling for aid workers is one of helplessness. Overwhelming odds. Maybe even a sense that God is not turning things around.
When confronted by such situations, a feeling of hopelessness reigns. And understandably so, what is man when compared to the ravages of nature? It is in these times that the pride and arrogance of man comes crashing down. For all our technology, equipment, worldly resources, we cannot magically fix this problem. And maybe it seems that God is being a bit slow to react.
Let’s slide this situation back a hundred years or so. Back then, this sort of famine would have resulted in warfare. Desperate people raiding their neighbours for a simple necessity of food and water. Remote regions would have had no camps to walk to. Aid workers would be individuals helping where they could, not well organised charities moving tons of supplies across the world to those in need. News media would have meant a small educated elite would be praying, but few others would even have known of the crisis. Racism would have meant Victorian England might not even have cared.
Taking a daily view, it is easy to miss what God has achieved. How humanity has grown in the warmth of His love. The crisis shows that we have not been perfected yet. But the response shows that the heart of love that God demands from all of His Sons and Daughters is growing in the world. Tyrants, warmongers and pirates are so shocking because they are the exception, not the rule. Scale back to the time of Jesus, and Hitler would not have necessarily been viewed as the evil dictator he was, genocide was acceptable then. Thank God the world’s eyes have been opened to such monstrous and evil acts.
In short, while we have so far to go between God’s love and our imperfect reflection of it, God is taking the world in a better direction. There are more Christians and church-goers than ever before in humanity. We have had three massive crises in short succession, yet people still give. People still pray. The world still has great hope.
Thank God for all the ways He has improved us. Thank God that he is still perfecting us. Plead with Him that we can be perfected enough to partner in His Grace to meet the need in East Africa today.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for all the work you tirelessly do among humanity.
Thank you for taking me out of sin and calling me your child.
Thank you for adopting me alongside your true Son Jesus, even though I am not deserving.
Forgive me for all the ways I fall short.
Help us all to be better Lord.
Act now and use this crisis to help the world grow.
Let not the people of East Africa suffer any more for our failings, Lord.
Show us how we can serve You.
Show us how you want us to act to help those in need in East Africa.
Speak to us, Lord.
Act through us.
We owe our lives to You, Lord, work within them.
For though we regularly sin, we want to be as Christ, perfected for Your glory, Lord.
Help us respond to East Africa.
Bless those in need.
In the Name of Jesus
Amen
ROMANS 5: 1-11 (NIV)
Faith Brings Joy
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.