Orphans AND WIDOWS
As I have been studying & trying to learn more about adoption, I continually come across James 1:27 - "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
After reading Isaiah 1 today, I saw the same idea there, "learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause" (v. 17).
I was convicted at how easily it was for me to just pass over 50% of these verses because it didn't fit my plan for my life. I'm eager to adopt & we hope the Lord paves the way. I know of nothing that's a clearer illustration of our standing in Christ than adoption. And yet, while there's not a thing in the world wrong with wanting to take care of a child, to provide love & nurture, etc...it fits my idea of what I want more easily, & so the charge to care for the widows gets erased by the image of sweet children in our midst.
It's not an either or, but a both. Not many people are fans of changing diapers, but I think if anyone was forced into it, they'd choose changing a child's diapers over a widow's diapers any day. We expect & are patient with children who fuss or say the wrong things, but we don't have the same patience & forgiveness when those who are old enough to know better do it. I'm just saying, only a small percentage of the world would choose 1 hour in a room with an old woman over 1 hour in a room with a baby or child.
I'm praying that every time my heart breaks for the orphans of the world, God would equally break my heart for the widow. Lord teach me that I may learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, that my religion before you would be pure & undefiled.
After reading Isaiah 1 today, I saw the same idea there, "learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause" (v. 17).
I was convicted at how easily it was for me to just pass over 50% of these verses because it didn't fit my plan for my life. I'm eager to adopt & we hope the Lord paves the way. I know of nothing that's a clearer illustration of our standing in Christ than adoption. And yet, while there's not a thing in the world wrong with wanting to take care of a child, to provide love & nurture, etc...it fits my idea of what I want more easily, & so the charge to care for the widows gets erased by the image of sweet children in our midst.
It's not an either or, but a both. Not many people are fans of changing diapers, but I think if anyone was forced into it, they'd choose changing a child's diapers over a widow's diapers any day. We expect & are patient with children who fuss or say the wrong things, but we don't have the same patience & forgiveness when those who are old enough to know better do it. I'm just saying, only a small percentage of the world would choose 1 hour in a room with an old woman over 1 hour in a room with a baby or child.
I'm praying that every time my heart breaks for the orphans of the world, God would equally break my heart for the widow. Lord teach me that I may learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, that my religion before you would be pure & undefiled.
