Putting Love Into Practice

The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and that we are to love God and each other (Matthew 22:37-39). If we are to walk as Jesus walked, we must step out in love and live lives that express love in meaningful and tangible ways. Love is made complete among us when we live in love (1 John 4:16-17). This requires intent.

The premise of true Christian living is serving others in love. This is perhaps the most fundamental principle of the Christian faith. Jesus demonstrated love through servitude when He washed the feet of the disciples during the last supper. To witness this type of love in action is truly profound as those who recently accompanied me on a short-term mission in Brazil can testify.

For security and safety reasons I will keep the exact location and identity of our mission field confidential. As an orphanage, this organization meets a genuine need in a land where orphans are a byproduct of the drug trade, legal prostitution and spiritual darkness. As a Christian ministry, it is a light shining in the shadows. Spiritual life in a spiritually desolate and bleak landscape. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

The contrast between the light within the campus and the darkness outside of the gates is both distinct and extreme. The remains of sacrificed chickens were discovered not far from the main entrance one morning, exemplifying this dichotomy. We were told by staff that this was not uncommon as local demonic forces resented the presence of Christ in their midst. We also found the remnants of red and black candles used for satanic worship on another one of our outings, providing further evidence of the spiritual warfare prevalent this society.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST

On the surface, the love of Christ is evident in everyone, from the staff, the volunteers, and house parents to the children themselves. The complexity of the many moving parts that contribute to the success of this facility – starting with the provision of food and clothing, psychological support, spiritual guidance, and financial assistance, to the exponential love flowing throughout – that cumulatively contribute to the wellbeing of every child is, quite frankly, astounding. And Christ is at the center of it all. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians1:17).

The orphanage exemplifies love in action and fulfils the most foundational functions of the body of Christ. First and foremost is the Christ centered approach to every detail of daily planning and routine that establishes a unique and transformative experience for everyone involved. The obedience to God’s calling to care for the “least of these brothers and sisters of mine,” (Matthew 25:40) is an inspiration and powerful testimony to the love of Christ.

The orphanage supplies so much more than humanitarian relief to children. It addresses the root causes of the darkness that has resulted in their abandonment or neglect and breaks the chains of slavery to the spiritual darkness of society by shining the light of Christ into the remote corners of the souls entrusted to it.

We witnessed newborn babies struggling with drug withdrawals as a result of breastfeeding from addicted mothers, listened to stories of children rescued after the murder of their parents and those whose parents were in prison for drug trafficking, or one boy surviving on dog food because of poverty and neglect prior to his rescue.

Despite the language barrier, the smiles, hugs and willingness of the children to accept our small gestures of goodwill, facilitated friendships being forged. We watched as the few loaves and fishes we offered were multiplied and amplified, and blessed us in return. Proverbs 11:25 was truly elucidated in our hearts and resonated throughout our visit. “He who refreshes others will also be refreshed.”

One morning as I was walking, a tiny boy helped me to more fully appreciate the ministry I was engaged in. He took me by the hand and led me on a tour of the grounds, pointing and explaining in Portuguese every detail of our surroundings. We sopped by the swings in the playground and I pushed him on one, and as he gained momentum, he would smile over his shoulder in the pure joy of the moment. Before long, I was pushing four little children on swings, each wearing similar smiles. The love of Christ truly transcends generations, languages and cultures.

AMAZING HARMONY AND LOVE

As a group, we were blessed by the amazing harmony and love of such a wide spectrum of ages of the children which reflected the demeanor of the house parents and their love for Christ. Prayer was integral to every activity and the presence of Jesus was very evident in conversation and action. Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there also (Matthew 18:20).

We were treated to homemade meals each evening as we visited individual houses. Each house was inhabited by a set of house parents, an assistant and around ten children ranging in ages from newborn to eighteen. The older children willingly helped with household chores and cared for the youngest.

It is truly heartwarming to be treated so lovingly and I’m sure the efforts made to provide comfort for our team left the house parents and older children (whose contributions did not go unnoticed) exhausted at the end of the day. We can all learn so much from the example they set.

1 Peter 4:8-9 seems to capture the essence of what we experienced, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” May God’s blessings continue to be abundant here and may He be glorified by the lives of everyone involved in this ministry.

One day at lunch, the staff paid tribute to the contributions of the Canadian team with the director delivering a heartfelt message of gratitude. It was overwhelming to witness the love of Christ filling the room and overflowing from everyone. Many tears of joy signified the palpable presence of the Holy Spirit during this special moment that will remain etched in our memories forever.

DOING NOTHING CANNOT BE AN OPTION

It can be difficult to rationalize the vast requirements of orphans throughout the world and to realize that we alone cannot even begin to address all of those needs. However, after interacting with these beautiful children and hearing their individual stories, one quickly comes to terms with the truth that doing nothing cannot be an option. If not me – then who? If not now – then when? And more than simply sending money to a distant organization, being involved in a mission of this nature facilitates fellowship and builds relationships that can last a lifetime. It is so much more than impactful, it is truly life changing.

Furthermore, when Christ is the impetus of our actions, the spiritual blessings that are embedded in helping orphans yields a harvest of young believers that will go on to glorify God and grow God’s kingdom. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:14).

We are called to “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:3-4). In doing so we glorify God. The gospel of Matthew records the words of Jesus in the twenty fifth chapter, verse forty, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

It is the unfailing love of God that compels us to serve others in love. Whether it is one small act of kindness, or a cumulative effort focused upon rescuing orphans and helping the vulnerable and marginalized, or nurturing souls, it begins with the resolve to put love into practice. Narrow is the path. Once you discover it – walk on it in love.