The Need is the Call

"Not everyone is called to adopt."

This is the most common response that I have gotten to any kind of comment about orphans or adoption. It is true, but it is often so obviously said out of defensiveness that it can be very discouraging and frustrating.

It is true that not everyone is called to adopt. But it is also true that every Christian is called to care for orphans, widows, and strangers. Adoption is not the only way to help them, but we are called to help. God speaks at great length on the subject of strangers, orphans, and widows; it is obviously very important to him. In fact, James 1:27 says this:

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.



I don't know about you, but I think it is pretty awesome that God actually spelled out to us what He accepts as pure and undefiled religion. I mean, that is something pretty valuable for Christians to know, if they want to please the Lord!!

There are so many ways to help. There is adoption, obviously. There is foster care. There is international relief, which can take an endless number of forms: medical aide, sponsoring a widow, sponsoring a child, buying sheep for poor people of the world, donating shoes, donating food, donating money, going on a short-term mission trip, volunteering for respite care for foster families, etc., etc., etc.




There are 143 million orphans in the world.

God wants us to care for them. Every Christian is called to care for them.

THE NEED IS THE CALL.




I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18

Some of my favorites...

These are a few of my many favorite scripture verses.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distressees, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Job 1:21-22
And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.