[Salvation]

Day 19 - October 10

 

Intention:

We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.

Scripture:

If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

-- Job 31:13-15

Reflection:

The ground is level as we stand before God.

Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God's expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy. He knew that in God's economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God's creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.

Job also knew that he didn't deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God's benevolent heart. As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God's kindness toward him.

As in Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves. He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).

Proverbs 3:27 reads, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so." Some things are so obvious that we don't even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.

Prayer:

God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help. Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother's womb. Amen.

Rev. Rob Schenck
President, Faith and Action, and National Clergy Council

[Salvation]

Today’s email:

We know that — ultimately — this is God’s battle and
it is in His hands. That is our faith ... and the reason
we are responding to His call.

We also know, however, that there will be stumbles
along the way. We will try to save every baby. We know
we will not succeed. Still, we ask for God’s grace,
strength and courage to continue this fight.

This is something that Regina, a 40 Days for Life
volunteer in Southern California, now realizes.

She was praying outside a Planned Parenthood abortion
center, feeling a bit awkward. “Okay, Lord, you got
me here,” she prayed. “Please guide me!”

About that time, a young woman left the building,
walked up to her and asked to borrow her phone. She
made the call, standing right next to Regina.

“They won’t do it today,” the young woman said to the
person on the other end of the phone call. “I don’t
care. I’m 13 weeks and I want it done. I’ll come
back tomorrow.”

Regina was stunned. “O, dear Lord! Please, what do
I say?” The woman returned her phone and quickly
walked away.

After a while, Regina realized she had something
valuable. The number that this woman called was still
in her cell phone! She called the number. Regina said
she had information to share. But before too long,
the person who answered hung up.

So Regina called back. “I care about Sarah and her
baby,” she said. “I want you to know that there are
people that want to help Sarah and her baby.”

Click! Another hang-up. No impact.

Regina then sent a text message. But — no response.

She arrived at Planned Parenthood the next morning,
hoping for a miracle. At first, she was full of hope
— there was no sign of Sarah.

But eventually, she arrived with her sister for the
re-scheduled abortion appointment. Regina walked up
to them and said, “Sarah, over 225 people are praying
for you and your baby.”

The two women continued walking into the building.

“I stood outside that place and cried,” said Regina.
“My heart is heavy tonight. I wanted to see the
miracle — but this morning was a harsh reality.”

Pro-life outreach like this is something new for
Regina. “Up until yesterday afternoon, I could not
imagine myself crying over a stranger’s baby,” she
said. “I’ve been crying for Sarah’s baby today.”

Still, Regina is aware that the Lord doesn’t give us
anything we can’t handle. “I believe the Lord put
Sarah and her baby in my path so that I could feel
His pain and sorrow,” she said. “I am forever changed
by this experience. I will always remember the sorrow
I feel today. I can now accept the challenge.”

As Regina discovered, this fight is not easy or pretty.
“Our prayers and unity in this are necessary,” she said.
“I thank God for each of you and your efforts. Thank
you for helping me learn what it takes to try and save
a baby like Sarah’s.”