Offering true help and hope.

Written by Richelle Hecker

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

This vehicle must have some stories to tell. The poor thing struggled to keep traveling along the road beside me, and it appeared that it might break down, or fall apart, at any moment. At one time I wondered, as it fully stopped at this stoplight, if it would be able to regain momentum to continue forward on its journey. If you look closely you’ll see that much of the siding is peeling away, and temporary taillights are placed in the back. It looks like it was caught on one of those narrow mountain roads, and got scraped along as it hugged the cliff side a bit too closely. A very tattered American flag is still strapped proudly to the back, and the name of a popular Christian music radio programming service is spray painted on the side. I’m happy to report that when the light turned green this RV continued pressing steadily on its way.

I like this vehicle because it is such a candid picture of mankind. Many of us are just hoping to make it to the next destination. Some see our scars and purposely avoid us, while others travel beside us in the same condition. Perhaps we’ve looked to government for help, only to discover it’s as tattered, and tired, as we are. We’ve encountered the well meaning Christian who spray painted a platitude on our side, adding shame, or empty hope, to our condition.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Isaiah 58: 6-7 New International Version

God desires more from us than a passing word to others. He wants us to get involved. His love engages deeply with us, and gives us the strength to do the same. Look around you, and see who you are called to help along the road.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO