Father’s Love for the Nations!

Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

When I pastored a church in the Dominican Republic there was a lady named Castalina Lara, her friends called her Chana. She was a faithful member of our church there. One day, in the course of conversation, she mentioned her birthday. Chana was born two days after me, same month, and same year! For days I could not shake this thought, “Two people who came into the world at the same time, one born to a middle class family in North America, the other to a poor subsistence farmer in the Dominican Republic; why was I born in the US with all the advantages that entails of education and opportunity and Chana in this poor village?”  Chana had a third grade education and could barely read and write. Her father was a subsistence farmer and at fifteen years old she married a thirty year old subsistence farmer. This is the continuing pattern of poverty all the girls in this village follow. Chana, however, came to know the Lord. She pushed for her three children to stay in school. All three have graduated high school!!! This is unheard of in this village. Her oldest has now graduated college as an accountant! Chana was active in church and her community and was my chief evangelist during my time pastoring there.

God had challenged me to my core, with all the education, unbelievable amounts of Bible teaching and financial resources I had received, what is my responsibility to the nations? It is so easy to fall into the North American lifestyle trap. We all want our SUVs and nice homes while still in our twenties but Moses decided to forgo a lifestyle of comfort to join with slaves. He identified with “his people”! I personally do not believe there is anything wrong with enjoying the blessings that God has given us here in the U.S., as long as it is not what we live for and we are actively involved in contributing to the things that are dear to the heart of God.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

We can all make a difference at some level. May we all do something to reach the nations!

Below: Chana, husband Tulio and Daughter Yiyi