Gary Haugen, CEO of International Justice Mission, spoke at my church yesterday. I couldn’t believe this man. He was so humble and real. And God has used him to do So much in helping those who cannot help themselves. He has freed countless lives around the globe from oppression, victimization, sex and human trafficking, and the list goes on.
What spoke to me the most was his authenticity in saying how every day he wakes up he thinks about “me” and battles self. Every day he has to choose to go outside of himself and do something bigger. I kept thinking, Man, he struggles with this too? It’s Gary Haugen!?
Then I realized we’re all pretty much the same and we all battle the “me” within us. Because we’re so consumed by “me”, many of our inadequacies keep us from doing God’s will. We simply don’t believe in Him. We believe too much in ourselves. Gary encouraged us out of Matthew’s gospel to give God the fish and loaves, so that He can multiply. Clearly, this is what Gary has chosen to do.
One way we can do this is to obey God’s word by tangibly seeking out ways to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. We’re called to do it as Christians. There’s no way around it. I’ve been challenged more than ever to be involved in these critical affairs on a world-wide level and to encourage others to do the same.
And I’m so thankful that all I have to do is give God my loaves and fish, so that He can feed the people and so that His glory may be revealed. And not my own.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
