Be Like God: Defend, Speak Up

Psalm 8

14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.

 17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; 
       you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, 
       in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

I'm still mulling over (consider at length) what I am to do when the "vision" is unclear.  God has been teaching me much.  In one regards, it has been a true revelation in itself.  Here is more of what is being discovered or rather, unveiled.  

If I have lost clarity of the vision (of purpose, of God, of my life) and need to draw near, what am I to do?  Ofcourse as believers, we should always pray, and I have always taught that during times of "drought" or as one author terms "the dark night of the soul".  We are to continue doing what we did last.  But even more than doing what we did last, we are to draw closer to the Father.  But the question is then do we draw closer to God?  Simple...here it is...do what pleases Him!  Here's another...do what captivates His heart.  

What will garner God's attention?  Here are a few things.  First of all, holy living.  Living a distinctly Christ-led life in which we bring glory to His name (rightful living, forgiving others, giving testimony of Gods goodness, exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, ...Galatians 5:22-23) and secondly, loving our neighbors.

  

http://www.un.org/apps/news/photostories_detail.asp?PsID=31

If you are working on the first and are lost in it (don't know where to go next), practice the second.  God is attracted by us helping those in need.  Read the verses on top.  He helps the fatherless. 

So here is my point for the day.  We are called to stand up for those without a voice, help the fatherless, the widows, the orphans, the imprisioned, the poor, and those castigated from society.  We are to champion their cause.  When do we these things, we act like the Father, and when we do, we draw near to the Father.  God loves a compassionate heart. 

Matthew 25:34-36, 40

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Why not research on needs out there.  Here are some:

     Ed Young, Jr. 

    http://www.edyoungblog.com/2008/11/c3-and-toms-shoes.html

    Bishop T.D. Jakes http://www.tdjenterprises.com/blog/?p=58

    Compassion International 

    http://www.compassion.com/default_a.htm

   Compassion Blog  http://blog.compassion.com/

   Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Solders 

    http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/child-soldiers

I'm sure you can find others.  

May you find the heart of the Father as you do what is near and dear to his heart.