Whenever I hear someone bemoaning the state of the world, I’m reminded of something I first heard many years ago: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” As an idealistic college student at the time, it was easy enough to identify the problem as “all the injustice and suffering in the world.” That quote, which I later learned was by u.s. civil rights activist Eldridge Cleaver, didn’t tell me how I could become part of the solution, but it did reinforce my growing conviction that I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the problem.

Then I came across a similar quotation: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). I was reading the Bible for the first time, and finding answers for the first time. The more I read, the clearer “the solution” became: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). And the more I grew to believe in that solution, the more Jesus challenged me to do something about it. “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). That was quite a challenge! But then the most wonderful thing happened. I discovered that Jesus would empower me to do whatever He asked of me. And He has, in spite of my mistakes and shortcomings.

Jesus needs you too. Will you “gather with Him”? He doesn’t expect you to change the whole world—just to do your best, day by day, in your corner of it. Will you give Him a chance to love and help others through you? Will you dare to be part of the solution?

Keith Phillips
For the Activated family