Who is in Your Vineyard?
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
You may have seen news stories about migrants who were flown to Martha’s Vineyard.
There’s a part of the story I’d like to focus on: the response of a local church to help 50 migrants for 48 hours. It's quite a remarkable story (here's one telling of their aid response)!
(You may or may not have an opinion on politics associated this story. But let’s leave the politics out of this.)
Church leaders on Martha’s Vineyard realized what was happening and sprang into action to take care of these people who were suddenly in a strange place.
The church already was active in their community. They knew how to feed people and provide appropriate shelter. They showed Christian love in action to the migrants.
John 15:12 states, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Notice this is a commandment. This is not just a nice suggestion. It is a command.
Some people are easy to love from a human perspective. Some people are a bit more difficult. Some are just downright hard to love.
Yet Jesus said to love one another just like Jesus loves us.
Jesus gave everything for us. He gave it to the rich, the poor, the sick, the well, males and females. Jesus loved us all and asked us to do the same to all.
So the question is: who is in your vineyard? Who is God placing in your area that needs love? Who needs you to be the hands and feet of Jesus for them?
Your vineyard is a place given you by God to make a difference for Him. Take a moment to pray for God’s eyes to see those around you who you can love like Jesus loved.