What the World Needs Now
I know I am showing my age now, but I remember a song made popular by Jackie DeShannon in 1965 called “What the World Needs Now.” Discovering what the world needs in this present reality where we seem to be adrift in a raging sea of hostility and hate seems vital. All of us would benefit from finding ways to calm the raging sea. The words to Jackie’s song offer a great starting point.
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some, but for everyone”
It’s comforting to let that verse soak in for just a little while and allow yourself to imagine what it would be like to experience a world like that. Imagine a world where every person feels loved. The Bible assures that God loves us, each and every one of us. Isn’t it sad that not everyone experiences God’s love? It’s a shame not everyone realizes God love, but He proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV).
Indeed, we can’t give away something we don’t have, but those who know God already know His love. The writer of 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” God is love, and He freely shares His love with each of us. We who know God’s love do have something to give away to those who don’t. Not only do we have His love to give away, but we are also required to share the Lord’s love with others.
Matthew’s Gospel records the words of Jesus speaking about the future final judgment. Let me say there will be a final judgment whether you believe it or not. That’s not based on my opinion, but the Lord’s assurance by His spoken words. So, Jesus promises He will return to earth in glory with all of His angels, and there will be a judgment of all peoples (Matthew 25: 31-32).
Jesus will say to those who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, “35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” Matthew 25:36-37). Reaching out to people in need is a way we express God’s love in this raging sea of hostility and hate. While I can’t fix the world’s problems, it is in my power to share the love the Lord shares with me. How about you?
The mission of McCullers Community Baptist Church is framed around the Great Commission stated in Matthew 28:18-20. The words of Jesus further refine our mission understanding. He declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; to ” (Luke 4:18-19 -NKJV).
We understand there is a difference between declaring God’s love and doing God’s love. With the Lord’s help, we strive to do both. We attempt to comply with instructions given by James, to be doers of the Word and not hearers only… (James 1:22 ESV). The world is irreparably damaged by sin and can only be fixed by the power of God. We are challenged to be the Body of Christ until He returns.