Give All You Have

I recently received a text message from my daughter, who is studying at a Christian college. ‘Hey mom, this song started the school day this morning.’ She forwards a song by a Dutch singer called Stef Bos. In his own passionate way, he sings the words: ‘You have to do something to make a difference when it gets dark, and all hope is missing: give all you have and put a face on love. Give, give, give light!’

Today’s text comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, about the lamp and the bowl. No one who lights a lamp puts it under a bowl but on a stand so that all may see the light. Jesus says that the eye is the lamp of the body. ‘When your eyes are healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body is also full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.’

When we have received the Gospel and believe, we can spread light. It is also the only salvation with genuine, eternal value. We can share Jesus’ words with others when they are experiencing hopelessness, despair, or a heavy sense of impending death. He has come down to earth for us. Old Zechariah sang of it: ‘Because of the tender mercy of our God, the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace’ (Luke 1:78-79).

When all hope is missing, we may point to Jesus. When words no longer suffice, we may embody the words. ‘Give all you have and put a face on love. Give light!’

Looking after one another can have many forms. In this reading plan from Compassion, I have touched on a few. Give yourself, your time, and your life. Put on love, comfort one another, and pray for and with one another. Above all, give light. Let the light of God shine through you in all its simplicity and splendor. And know that his kingdom comes through you and me.

Sponsoring a child in extreme poverty is a great opportunity to make the concept of caring for one another more concrete. Through sponsorship, you may bring a child into the light and change the course of their life forever! Visit the Compassion website and listen to your heart. www.compassion.com