“The World and its Flaws, and What We Can Do About It”

 

“The World and its Flaws, and What We Can Do About It”

 

 

Over the past month, in two different cases, six children—most under age 7—were rescued from cybersex trafficking rings in the Philippines. The boys and girls were being sexually exploited in images and video broadcast online to customers in over 19 countries on four continents, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

Amid pandemic, the Philippines has emerged as a global hot spot for online child sexual exploitation, and coronavirus lockdowns that restrict millions to their homes may be worsening the abuses. If we will only care to watch televisions and newscast, we will be extremely shock that actual offenders, are actually people that were most dear to these children – some are their parents, relatives or even siblings.

A new study released by the Washington-based International Justice Mission said, Philippine cases of online child sexual exploitation have increased sharply in recent years with parents agreeing to have their own children victimized for the money. The private group has helped track down and prosecute offenders in the Philippines.

“The global shutdown with the COVID-19 pandemic seems to only be increasing these phenomena,” U.S. State Department official John Richmond, who oversees U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking, said in an online launch of the study.

 

The Hard Truth

Every day, innocent people are beaten, raped and abused in slavery. These people are actual persons who has a name, a story and a dream. (Please see ‘Slavery: In Their Own Words’ here.)

Many of us who have a smooth sailing life are probably not aware, but these are actually happening. Common victims are mostly women and children who cannot defend their selves.

What are we gonna do then? We may not change the whole world in general, but we can simply be advocates of change by changing ourselves first.

 

A Biblical Truth

Psalms 143:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me and in thy righteousness.

King David humbles himself before God in prayer by acknowledging that God will hear him not because of his own faithfulness and righteousness, but of God's faithfulness and righteousness.

It is not of who we are or what we did but of who God is and what He had done that He keeps on hearing our prayer. Likewise, it is not who we are or what we are doing that can change the world, but only God’s grace can change every persons heart. We cannot qualify in God's standard by means of our own wisdom, strength, or righteousness that is why God made a step forward to reach us by sending Jesus to save us from our sins and brings us back to God. In that way we have nothing to boast before God. All that we can do is to be thankful in our heart. How to be thankful? Well, that is for every one of us to discover on our personal relationship with God.

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The whole point here is humility. We tried to do anything to make this world a better place, but the truth is, this world will never get better, but that does not mean that we have to stop on making our lives better for ourselves and for the people we care for.

The problem among us Christians is we are citizens of the Kingdom of God who tries to blend to the world and approve on its own problem, but the Bible says, we have to set our affection on things above, not on things on earth. Meaning, we have to think differently. Instead of complaining, find a solution of changing yourself for the better, and teach others.

Colossians 3:1-6

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

 

Things to Apply on Our Self First

1.       Acknowledge that you do not know everything. (Proverbs 1:1-5)

A wise person acknowledges that he or she does not know everything. The Book of Proverbs, in fact, is also a book that centers on a man humbling down before God, and acknowledging that it is not his own wisdom that he need, but God’s wisdom. To forget your own for a divine exchange of wisdom is humility in itself.

 

2.       To understand the will of God, you must have the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1::6-7,23)

Fearing God is different from worldly fear wherein you fear to approach God because you are afraid of punishment as a consequence[T1]  of sinning. That is remorse in itself, but you never feel guilty. The fear of the Lord is you know that every time you commit sin, it is God that you hurt the most, and because you love God, you cannot afford to hurt Him, so you avoid sin. Therefore, the fear of the Lord is hating evil (Proverbs 8:13)

 

3.       Do not consent to sin so that you will not be in bondage. (Proverbs 1:10-15)

4.       Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Do not be wise on your own eyes, but instead, acknowledge God’s presence in everything that we are doing so that we will be properly guided by the Holy Spirit. This is also about asking God’s consent in prayer.

5.       Do not compromise our identity as a Christian to please people, less we will fall shot from our faith. (Proverbs 4:14-16)

6.       Let our light shine by being just. (Proverbs 4:18-19)

A man living in darkness does not know at what they stumble. They do not know what they are doing. In contrast, a just person is always sober. He/she knows what they are doing and why they do things. A just person is purpose-driven because he adheres to proper guidance.

7.       Keep your heart pure. (Proverbs 4:23)

Make sure that you have proper motives in life on why you want to study God’s will or why you want to know God. How to stay pure? By living according to the word of God (Psalms 119:9)

 

Little Things That Matter

Most of us wants to do big change one time big time. That is why we try to aim the bull’s eye by making a big jump-start. However, that is very unrealistic and most likely turn into great disappointment when not accomplished. We have to aim SMART and work SMART. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely).

Let us take my little sister for example.

My sister is my comrade in faith. She majors in Performing Arts but has a heart on teaching children. Because she is still a student that have a heart on introducing kids who Jesus is, what she did is teaching little children in the neighborhood stories from the Bible. When Pandemic happens and she cannot risk the kids’ health, she wrote a Book entitled ‘Who is Jesus’ and print out a copies which distributed to the children.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you are doing. Being a messenger of the Good News of God comes in different shapes and forms – different parts with different functions, but one body.

 

I testify myself that I am using my writings (books, blogs and social media posts) to share Jesus to the World. Perhaps you are called to be a Missionary? Or Pastor? Or Evangelist? But we only have one Purpose.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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Did You Know?

In a world where nearly 400 million children live on less than $1.90 a day, child sponsorship is a strategic way to provide children with compassion, resources, and hope.

Compassion International is such a ministry that provides these children child sponsorship program that aids their welfare.

Something You Can Do to Contribute

Sponsor a Child Program

When you participate in Compassion’s sponsor a child program, you are investing in a child’s future. Compassion’s program is:

Church Based – The program works exclusively with local churches in developing countries. The churches identify children who need sponsors and coordinate the efforts to help them. Through the local churches, the children learn about Jesus Christ and what His message has to do with them.

Christ Centered – The Compassion sponsor a child program gives each child an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ. The program focuses on teaching children to live Christ-centered lives.

Child Focused – Your sponsored child will only have one sponsor. You will have opportunity to impact his or her life through letters and photos and you can encourage one another. You will also provide healthcare, educational opportunities, life skills training, clean water, nutritional food, and the opportunity to hear about Jesus. You will walk together through life, encouraging one another and praying for each other.

Join Compassion’s sponsor a child program and help a child in need today! Select a child above and begin to change a child’s life in the developing world.

 

                      

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This blog post is a blog for Compassion Bloggers under September 2020 Writing Prompt “Delivering Them From Evil”

Compassion Bloggers is a ministry of Compassion International whose mission is to release children from poverty .

Catch Compassion bloggers at https://compassionbloggers.com/