“Out Live Your Life” by Max Lucado

I just read Max Lucado’s newest book “Out Live Your Life.” I finished it in about one sitting. It was that good. The book follows the early church in Acts, and with relevant examples for today, Lucado emphasizes the importance of reaching out to others, the same way the early church did.

This message is so critical. We must not turn deaf ears to the cries of the hurting. We must not blind our eyes to the pain of the suffering. We must stop making excuses. Yes, the problem of world hunger and child abuse is too overwhelming for one person, maybe even for one country. But Lucado reminds us:

“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something” (48).

When God called Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery, Moses offered a litany of reasons why he didn’t think that he was the right man for the job. But God thought otherwise.

We often do the same thing. We see the problems; we know they’re there. But we’re so busy with our own lives – working jobs, finishing school, raising kids. Still, with all our self-proclaimed busyness aside, what it really boils down to is that we feel helpless. We don’t even know where to begin. We feel unqualified. Then, once again, Lucado speaks to our self-doubt:

“God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called” (14).

All of us who follow Christ are called. Jesus said in his parable:

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).

The only question that remains is: What will we do?

It doesn’t have to look the same for everybody. In fact, the needs of this world are so great that it must look different for everyone. Maybe you’re called to adopt a child. Maybe you’re called to help a neighbor. Maybe you’re called to mentor a kid without a dad. Whatever it is that God puts on your heart, do it today. Don’t put it off for a later, more convenient time.

What are some ways that you can serve those who need it most?