HSBC Coffeebreak Devotional

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19 NIV

After the birth of my first child, I began to view the world in a whole new way. Suddenly, I became even more concerned with the state of things - knowing that I would eventually be sending children into it. However, as I kept up with the news, I quickly became aware that there were many problems that needed to be tackled...too many for me to process!

I guess what I am getting at is my frustration with myself for lack of participation in social issues. Our world has many problems (AIDS, poverty, child sex trafficking etc.). Whenever I read about a new problem I want to do something to fix it - now. I find it encouraging that Jesus does care about people in the here and now, as opposed to just where they are going to spend eternity. I think as Christians we sometimes feel suffering is permissible as long as people have been baptized. Of course, I wouldn't say this directly, but I think my actions frequently imply this. And if you think about it, the notion that God does not care about the condition of people in the present does not seem to jive with Jesus' life on earth. Why would Jesus bother to heal all those people if suffering is only a temporary stop on the path to eternal glory? Why would he bother to feed the 5,000?

I think the tension that is chafing me is that life is to be lived somewhere between, "Go into all the world and make disciples" (Matt 28:19), "As you do unto the least of these so you do unto me," (Matt 18:5) and "make it your ambition to live a quiet life and work with your hands," (1 Thessalonians 4:11). What does it look like to do all three at once? How can I balance my world as a mother with my role as a Christian on this earth?

What does it mean to live a world changing life right where I am? Is being the difference for one person enough? How about 5 people? What about just making a difference to my own kid and my husband? How big an impact are we supposed to make? The problem is, there is no textbook answer. However, I think it is a question I will continue to ask myself - constantly. By wrestling with this idea regularly, I keep my spirit in tune with what God does want from me today.

Written by
Angela Haddick