Changed by the Orphan

(In recognition of November being National Adoption Awareness month, I will be posting blogs about orphan care and adoption throughout this month.)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” -Matthew 5:8

A friend of mine once asked, “Don’t you think if people personally experience the orphan, they will be transformed?”  Before I was able to answer with an affirmative response, God brought to my remembrance a number of instances when I have witnessed people experiencing orphanages and interacting with truly needy orphans, but who were left unmoved and returned to their lives seemingly unchanged. I suppose it is not much different than walking by beggars in U.S. city streets, giving nothing to them, yet spending hundreds on ourselves in nearby department stores—or times of retreat to a mountaintop or seashore where we completely miss the great majesty of God speaking through his creation because of our preoccupation with our own lives and issues.  How could we not have experienced God in these circumstances?

Just as the Word says that creation reveals its Creator, it also says that God is the Father of the Fatherless and that what we do to the least of these, we are doing to Him.  It is very possible to miss God and His majesty even when He is right in front of us. To return from the fields of the fatherless unmoved and unchanged is to have missed Jesus, himself.

The response that I actually gave to my friend was, “Only those who follow Christ along the Calvary Road to get to the orphan—walking in humility, willing to see their own sinfulness and frailty in light of God’s greatness, and are humbled by it—are those who will be changed by the orphan.”

I believe that the answer to my friend’s question lies in the scripture, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  As we walk in this world, we often become spotted by its ways and are in need of continual cleansing by God. We must be ever willing to confess our sins to the One who promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for He alone is able to purify and set our hearts right. Certainly, no human effort is able to make the heart pure. Only when we are cleansed by God are we able to see and know Him through the majesty of His creation and among His people. Through humility before God and continual confession of our sins, the eyes of our heart will be opened to see God, the Spirit will change us, and His power will be in us to actually affect change. The flesh must be dead, and it must be Christ in us that is our life. When we delight our hearts in God and walk in light of our need for Him, when we step out in faith seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, then we shall experience God’s power and be transformed as we serve the fatherless. And He will get the glory. The Word says that He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

If we are going to the fields of the fatherless to gain the respect of others, we have gone for the wrong reasons and will likely miss God.

If we have gone to find our worth, we have gone for the wrong reasons and may not see God.

If we have gone out of obedience to His leading, having our hearts cleansed by the blood of Christ, knowing our own need of God, we have gone for the right reasons and will be changed by the experience and used by God in the process! And the glory will be to His name!

Comments

[Rental Property Chicago]

Amen and Amen!
I remember a verse found in II Timothy 2:20-21 - talks about cleansing one's self from ignoble purposes, then we can be used for noble purposes. Daily purging of one's self is necessary. God is compassionate.

[Brian]

Great word!

[Tricia W.]

Thank you for the great post. Words I needed to hear this day. Will miss seeing you in Nashville. Tricia W.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1440311239]

hi kerry! i very randomly came across your blog & it is amazing! it looks like during the years that have passed since i last saw you have been on quite a journey! your family is beautiful and you haven't aged a day!!! :) i would love to catch up!
much love, ash

[Praise and Coffee]

Beautiful post, thank you!
Sue

[Claudine T in MD]

Kerry,

Haven't been here for some time. I have to say, every time I am, I am both blessed and challenged. You are filled with so much wisdom and godly insight.

My husband and I are first generation Christians and only became Christians after marriage. So...over the last 20 years we've had MUCH to learn.

Thank you for the words you share. They are life, because they point to Christ and His Cross.

Hope your entire time in TN was blessed. We were scheduled to be there, but I got sick just prior. Trying to remember that my disappointments are really HISappointments.

The Lord bless & keep you...& give you peace,

Claudine T in MD

Claudine T in MD