27 million like me

I am on my way to Osaka and just watched a film called '12 years a slave'. What a gut wrenching movie. I'm still emotionally processing the film that I had to get some thoughts down.

We have come a long way as people but I can't shake the feeling of injustice when I think about slavery. As I watched the film and was faced with things that made me so uncomfortable I think about those that are still living in slavery. It may look different today but it still happens. In fact, stats say that there are actually more people human trafficked today that there were slaves when slavery was legal. 

Approximately 27 MILLION people are sold in to modern day slavery every year. 

Most people who watch the film will walk away thinking 'Wow, things were so bad. Thank God we came to our senses and abolished slavery.' This makes me even more uncomfortable because the same injustice is happening daily. DAILY, in our world!

God, show us what to do? In Matthew it says your burden is light. This burden is REALLY heavy. What is it that you would have us do? I wear my A21 Because bracelet everyday in hope it will spark conversation with people. I give money to different organisations. But GOD there must be more that we can do. That I can do.  

I work for an organisation called Compassion and last week I wrote a quick little devotional for a newsletter I had to send out. This is what it said:

"After the busyness of the last few months with Christmas, New years and summer festivities we often approach the early months of the year feeling weary. It is easy to get discouraged when we add to this the burden we feel when we see that poverty is so big. As advocates who care greatly about children I know this can weigh us down but the other day I was encouraged by Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Rest is doesn’t mean do nothing. The Greek word for rest means ‘inward tranquillity while performing necessary labour’. Jesus wasn’t telling us to hang up our tool belts and zone out until we feel less overwhelmed. He was revealing to us that peace in your soul will release you to continue the work he has called you to. We are all called to speak up for the poor and God didn’t intend for this burden to be too hard for us to carry.

We must remember to let our zeal for speaking up for children in poverty come from a place that is centred on Jesus and not the need. It’s through Christ that lives are transformed. Christ is the reason Compassion exists. I’ve been so blessed since I began working in the office to see just how much God intervenes in our work.

Be encouraged to not give up advocating for children. Keep your heart focused on Jesus and in that you will find tranquillity to perform the necessary labour."

I'm struggling to live and believe my own words. Jesus be the centre. Be the hope we need.