“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.  Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.”

Isaiah 58:10

According to Bread for the World, a leading organization in the effort to end hunger, 923 million people in the world today are chronically hungry. Every day, almost 16,000 children die of hunger-related causes. While most in the United States do not suffer from extreme hunger, millions are unable to afford the food they need for a healthy diet.

As God’s people through Jesus Christ, we cannot ignore the reality of hunger in our world. Nor can we sit by while millions starve. Simple compassion, not to mention Christ-like love, calls us to act.

In the time of Isaiah, God promised that if his people would feed the hungry and help those in trouble, then their light would shine out from the darkness. The same is true today. If Christians band together to fight hunger, not only will millions receive the help they desperately need, but also the world will see the light of Christ shining through us. As Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matt. 5:15-16).

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How are you contributing to the effort of God’s people to feed the hungry? Are you planning to do anything extra in this special season?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I must confess that it’s easy for me to forget about the hungry. I don’t see them very often. There aren’t many news stories on children dying from hunger. It’s easy to be insulated from the reality of hunger in our world. Forgive me, Lord, for my narrow vision, even for my hardness of heart.

Today I pray especially for your church, that we might be mobilized even more to feed the hungry. Thank you for organizations like Bread for the World, World Vision, and others that help us to meet human need in an effective way. Thank you for thousands of individuals who are using their knowledge and skills to help the poor overcome poverty. Use these efforts and so many others to bring an end to starvation.

Finally, Lord, help me to find my role in this work. Show my family and me where we should direct our giving. Help us to grow, not only in our giving, but also in our personal involvement in efforts to help the hungry.

O Lord, may we shine with your light into this dark world. Amen.