Are we chosen?

Dear Family,
Most of us are familiar with the story of Heifer International, right? We know that Dan West was from Pleasant Hill, Ohio, and that he was traveling through Spain, after World War I and witnessed some painful poverty; his response was to create a minister to meet the needs of the hungry, all over the world. Heifer works by giving a community/family a cow, with the education and understanding on how to utilize that cow to the fullest: milk and more cows, etc. Heifer has grown to include all livestock and grains as well, so that they can, literally, turn hunger around. And it all started because West saw a need and felt chosen to meet that need.

Did he wealth? No.

Did he have experience with starting ministries? Maybe.

Did he face hurdle after hurdle, naysayer after naysayer? Absolutely.

But in the end, because he felt such a strong conviction to do something about hunger, Heifer International, which started as a Church of the Brethren ministry, has outgrown the denominations ability to run it. One cow, one seed planted created a history of change.

Jesus seems to point to the reality that he was chosen to change lives. In Matthew 12 verses 15-21; Jesus gives His clear defense why Jesus was chosen. Listen to powerful truths, "I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations." "In his name the nations will put their hope." These are markers of how we are to know that Jesus was God's chosen Messiah. Notice there is nothing about moral purity. Law abiding obedience. Powerful army. Deep pockets/balanced budgets. Nope. According to Matthew's hearing of Jesus, the Messiah will be known by: nations having hope, justice flowing, and Jesus' work wont stop until, justice becomes victorious. Justice which could and should include peace. Hope that things are not always going to be this way. Justice says all people have value. Hope suggests that God's people will do something about it.

If this is how we are to know that Jesus is God's chosen, how are people to know that we follow Jesus? How are we proving God's love as truth? And do people who run across us suggest that our work, like Dan West, gives them hope? Brings justice? Or do we still have work to do?

Naysayers will always exist, especially in the church. They have always been here, and they will always be here. We can't let their negativity and lack of vision and faith stop us from moving forward. It is time, like Dan West did, to change the world. It is time for the West Milton Church of the Brethren to have such a powerful impact on the world that we grow beyond our walls, our district, our state, and our denomination. It is time for the people to know hope and experience justice, because we are doing what Jesus did. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry