“Lord, turn me outward and make me a vessel of rescue towards others,” is the prayer of every willing heart that desires to live for something more than trivial pursuit. The question is, where do we begin? In this episode, Leslie answers that question and shares the power of adopting Christ’s heart for the weak, needy, and lost while balancing the busyness of life and day-to-day responsibilities. Be inspired to lavish Christ’s love on the fields that are ready to harvest, one soul at a time.
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT
Proverbs 31 mentions an important cause that is not just on God’s heart, but in His Word. “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (vs. 8-9). The question remains: is what we are spending our time on in line with God’s calling on our lives?
A key ingredient to the Gospel is sharing the light and love of Christ with others; becoming His hands and feet to the needy, the vulnerable, and the outcast. We must challenge our souls in this day of ease and comfortable living and gauge the depth of our passion for being willing to fight for the causes nearest to God’s heart – not just in outlets that are easy and convenient, but at whatever cost Jesus Christ asks us to serve Him.
How to Adopt God’s Heart:
- Be Willing
In order to be a vessel of rescue towards others we must first be willing. You might have heard the phrase “adopting the heart of God,” and this simply means that we see the world and these causes through His eyes, and not our own. This cannot be drummed up in our own strength, but is a supernatural impartation of God’s grace in our lives.
To further fuel your willingness to turn outward, it helps to study the amazing topic of Christian heroism – the lives of men and women who spilled their lives for the weak, not out of duty, but of love. Some of our favorites are the lives of: William and Catherine Booth, Gladys, Aylward, Elizabeth Fry, Amy Carmichael, and Corrie ten Boom. Read their biographies and become acquainted with their stories. Then ask God for the courage to follow their steps by His grace.
Remember that when Jesus rescued us, it was not easy or convenient. It required far more discomfort and pain than we could possibly imagine. When we become Christ’s hands and feet, we may get dirty in the trenches and suffer as He did, but it is a small way to show Him our love and appreciation for saving our souls.
- Be Prayerful
We are all called to build the Kingdom proactively and sacrificially and at the overwhelming need all around us, it is important to stop – and pray. Ask God where and how to be His hands and feet to the causes around you. Realize that often God desires us to cultivate sacrificial love by starting with one – one soul or one step of obedience at a time.
Pray through the following list, and ask God to direct you to the cause of His choosing. Here are just a few groups of people that need the LIFE of the Gospel:
- the persecuted church
- fatherless and widows
- the impoverished
- prisoners and slaves
- refugees and foreigners
- the unborn
- the unsaved
While it’s true that we can’t neglect the responsibilities that God has given to us in our respective seasons, we can find the balance between doing too much and not doing anything at all. Partner with the Body of Christ and ask like-minded believers to join forces with you for a specific need in your community or world. If you are a mom of small children, seek to find ways to involve your kids in turning outward with you. As you seek to take steps outside of your comfort zone and creatively address the needs around you, you will find that God’s grace is ready to meet you every step of the way!
Key Scriptures
- Proverbs 31:8-9
- Ezekiel 16:49
- Isaiah 61:1
- John 20:21
Recommended Resources
- Be inspired and stirred by our short film, Depraved Indifference, available here.
