Serving humanity
On August 19, 2003, the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq was bombed and 22 humanitarians were killed. In memory of that tragic event, the U.N. General Assembly designated August 19 of each year as World Humanitarian Day. The recognition of aid workers was the original intent of the day, but now it has become a day to support those affected by humanitarian crisis and to recognize the humanitarian workers who give support to them.
A living petition
This year the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and their partners will build on the 2017 campaign, #NotATarget, which called for civilians, humanitarians and health workers to be better protected in zones of conflict. New to the campaign this year will be a living petition, calling for the protection of civilians. According to unocha.org: “It will project people’s faces, names and locations onto screens and onto a socially-powered sculpture created by an artist specifically for the UN and this campaign.” The use of a voiceover will allow the face of that sculpture to speak for civilians caught in conflict.
There are millions of people in the world who are in need of help, relief, care and concern. The World Bank revealed that 767 million people in the world lived on less than $1.90 a day (2013 statistics). Although it was an improvement from the previous year, there is still a tremendous need for good deeds throughout the world.
A commitment to help
Jesus once told his disciples they would always have the poor with them (John 12:8). Jesus was not expressing approval or acceptance of poverty but was stating a heartbreaking reality of a fallen world. Followers of Christ must be committed to help those in need to live fully. Days and events set aside to call attention to humanitarian and mission efforts are necessary, but we also must pray each day for the Holy Spirit to move our hearts and open our spiritual eyes to the needs we can meet to the glory of God.
Question of the day: What keeps you from helping people in need?
Focal scriptures: Isaiah 58:6-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 7:7-12
For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.