Vol. 17 No. 03 | January 20, 2014
I am borrowing the title from a brochure provided by the Pregnancy Care Center in our community that we shared with our people on Sunday morning as part of our observance of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. The article, based on John 10:10, identifies Jesus as the Life-Giver and challenges us to live our lives in His footsteps as we give life to all people.
The article concludes with these words:
“By treating every person we meet with dignity, we demonstrate the value of all human life the way God does. We help each of them to understand God’s love and grace. Through a life-giving lifestyle we have the best opportunity to introduce others to the life-giver Himself and to the forgiveness and healing offered by God through His Son.”
Workers in the Pregnancy Care Center in our community, and those in your community, and multiple other organizations are committed to offering compassionate counsel and gentle guidance to expectant mothers in a moment of crisis. How blessed we are to have this organization and multiple others in our communities where the homeless are offered food and shelter, where people who find themselves at the end of their rope can find hope to keep going.
Many of you are off work today because of a man who attempted to follow the life-giver, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was his desire – his “dream” – to see all men and women treated with dignity. Although we continue to struggle with this concept, we are closer than we would have been if this man had not taken following the life-giver so seriously.
It is our turn. We do not need to volunteer at a pregnancy center (although I am sure they would be appreciative if you did), nor is it necessary to join a protest march for freedom or equality. Our greatest contribution to this effort may come when we give a child our undivided attention. Our greatest gift may come when we choose to slow from our hectic pace of life and walk with a person whose pace of walking has been slowed down by years or poor health. The greatest need is not for us to make a splash in the world that will make the news and be retold for generations, but to make an impact on one individual who needs to know you are glad they exist.
As you move through this week will you look for an opportunity to follow the life-giver by being a life-giver? Will you make a decision this week to give your undivided attention to one individual in your sphere of influence? Will you commit to search for an individual who needs to be reminded that he is special, unique and created in the image of God, and remind him? Will you pray for God to bring you into the path of someone who needs to be assured that she is not forgotten, not ignored, and not alone?
It’s your turn. Follow the life-giver.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, ESV)
Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.