From Ben – 12 Dec 2021

In my daily private devotions I have been reading devotionally through the short but powerful letter of 1 John. In Chapter 3:16-17 I came across this challenge – “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. I think the immediate context relates to the church of Jesus Christ, surely our charity is to start with the household of faith. Having said that, we also need to try our best to meet the physical needs of others around us as well. Note the passage says, “if we see a needy person”. We are all aware of the many needs in N.Z. and abroad, but this passage seems to suggest that from time to time we have special encounters with people in need. God may in the course of the day, bring to our lives a special need or crisis that someone is facing and present us with the opportunity to help.

As we rapidly approach Christmas, let us look out for ways God brings the needs of others to our attention and then seek to meet those needs. I do remind you that meeting needs in God’s name does not have to be hugely expensive. It can be quite small but meaningful. Because of Covid and its wide-reaching effects on our community there has hardly been a time where we are surrounded with more need than this Christmas 2021. I am asking God to open my eyes to see the needs He wants me to meet, because I get so focused on what I am doing that I miss real needs right before me. Will you do the same, that we may show compassion, kindness and generosity to others in the name of Christ?