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"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"
(Isaiah 6:8)
Bill Devlin is a pastor in the Bronx, New York, and recently left with a small team to go to Lviv, Ukraine to help. The Ukrainian Army invited him to come and serve among them. Bill is a Vietnam veteran and a Purple Heart recipient. His primary mission is to provide medical care and to offer spiritual help to those suffering in the war. Devlin states, "Somebody, the government, who knows, [a nongovernmental organization] has set up a tent here and these poor folks are going through bags and boxes of clothing in order to bring it back to wherever they're staying. So these folks came with nothing and now, someone has set up this tent here in order for them to get some clothing for their families."
I have a good friend who recently bought his airline ticket to fly to Poland. He has rented a van and will drive to the Romanian Ukrainian border. His goal is to go to Lviv and help as many people as he can. He is willing to drive people out of the country to Poland. I admire his courage and willingness to go and am working with him to help provide contacts with others who will be able to assist him when he is there.
Both my friend and Pastor Bill remind me of Isaiah in our biblical text today when he raised his hand and volunteered to God to go and serve. I know there are some reading this and thinking about how they wish they had the means and the opportunity to travel to Poland or even Ukraine and do what so many are doing: serve the hurting in Jesus' name. For most, that is not a possibility for several reasons. Now, some of you could certainly do it. You have the financial means and the ability to go and serve with your boots on the ground. But I realize that most cannot do that. However, as I wrote yesterday, you can still help in significant ways. You can pray, give financially, and encourage the many who are going.
There will always be opportunities for you and me to help others in Jesus' name. After this horrific crisis in Ukraine, unfortunately, there will be another situation that will need your help. It may be a natural disaster in your own community, a refugee family coming to your city, or a ministry that your local church is sponsoring. Again, it could be any number of ministry opportunities. The question I ask you is: are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and do something? Anything?
One of the many things I love about Jesus' ministry on earth was how he helped people with whatever need they had. He was quick to lend a helping hand and always available to share the good news of the Kingdom of God. He gave the hungry food as well as the gospel, the Bread of Life. His life was lived on mission.
My heart, like so many of yours, is broken for the many in our world who are in desperate need of help. I know the needs are endless, but that does not exclude us from helping where we can. My wife, Ashley, and I are grateful for the many ministries we get to support financially, both personally and through the Danny Forshee Evangelistic Association. I pray that God helps you and me to be like Isaiah and be ready to go and serve when the Lord asks for a volunteer.
A good friend of mine likes to say, "Whatever the question God asks, let our 'yes' already be on the table." Is your response to God's call to action yes or no? I pray that God works so powerfully in your heart that you answer yes to God's question to you, and you go and serve many in Jesus' name.
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