We drive by that familiar corner near the Target and the same man holds the tattered sign, “Lost a job. Anything helps.”
As soon as my kids notice, they holler, “Mommy, there’s a hopeless person. Give him a granola bar.” I’ve tried correcting, “Baby, it’s homeless. Homeless.” But they still say “hopeless”.
We sometimes pass a chewy, chocolate chip granola bar out the window and then pray for him. But when the light turns green we drive to our comfortable life, forgetting his face until we go to Target again for toothpaste and Pull-ups.
flickr photo credit: jim fischer
Suffering covers the landscape of our world, from homelessness to terminal illness to the travesty of sex trafficking. The burden of living on this planet can push us to the point that we raise our hands in surrender to the mess. We turn our eyes back to the latte we just bought and conclude with slight apathy that we just can’t save the world.
And we’re right. We can’t save the world. But we can do something. And though it’s good to give a granola bar, I want to do more.
That’s one reason I partner with OneVerse.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?… So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:14, 17
In mere seconds I can pull up an app with 18 different Bible translations, including commentary and explanations of the original language. Not to mention the 10 Bibles sitting on our downstairs bookshelf gathering dust.
Yet millions have never read the words “God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to die on your behalf. To free you.” That’s a suffering that cuts my spirit deep.
Partnering with OneVerse is something tangible I can do. I can sponsor the translation of a verse each month and know that I’m handing hope to a people who truly live hopeless without the Words of their Maker.
I’m linking up with other OneVerse bloggers today trying to spread the word. You and I can’t save the world. But we can do something. We can help give the hope of Truth to those who have never heard.
Would you consider joining me in the effort? Would you help spread the word? Click here to find out more.
Hey Lara,
I was just thinking earlier today, what if I had never heard these wonderful words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). Sometimes we just need to go back to the beginning…back to where we all came from…back to step one…back to our own moment of transformation…to realize that this world, for all its beauty and rhythm, can’t hold the key to lasting joy. For those of us who have experienced that joy, to quote an old 70s-era song, “we want to pass it on.” Giving to OneVerse is a great way to do it!
Thanks for that encouragement, Barbara.
I love this! We see those who are poor in the material sense every day and they are a little easier to spot. Those who are poor for lack of access of God’s Word are not so obvious, but what they lack just breaks my heart. I am SO praying that every language will have God’s Word in our lifetime!
Wouldn’t that be something to celebrate!
“Yet millions have never read the words “God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to die on your behalf. To free you.” That’s a suffering that cuts my spirit deep.”
That line – so, so true – brings tears to my eyes!
Knowing, understanding – just being able to read – God’s word in their own language can begin to break the foundations of many of the issues that we see in the world every day.
Thank you for using your beautiful voice as an advocate for the Bibleless.
Thank you, Tammie. Blessings to you!
I’m so thankful I was introduced to OneVerse at Releant ’11. I am blessed to partner along with them and consider it an honor to minister alongside you.
Lara, thanks so much for blogging with us through OneVerse. You’re right: it’s about taking tangible steps to alleviate the suffering, and ultimately, to help fulfill the Great Commission. So pleased to partner with you. -Johanna, social media coordinator, The Seed Company|OneVerse