Jason M. Alexandre, Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – Genesis 4:9

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ –Matthew 25:44-45 May each day we have breath in our lungs remember Cain’s question to the Lord and answer it with for ourselves with a resounding, “Yes! I am my brother’s keeper!” This pretension is indeed true. For we are not that different from one another. One similarity we share is that we were made God’s image.

For the Bible says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” –Genesis 1:27 Some may say, I am just too busy to help anyone! I have problems of my own! Another similarity we ALL share. For the Bible says, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” –Job 5:7 No fault of our own that trouble often finds us for it is inherent of our fore parents who disobeyed God and sinned and we therefore followed in their example.

Sin is still immanent and if we have the means to remove a burden from our fellow man, our brother or sister, may we lovingly do so as if it were God almighty requesting our assistance himself. If they are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them a drink. If they need a coat, find them one. You help them, you please God. You turn your back, you displease God. If we are going to give of ourselves, may it be from the heart otherwise we sin by giving begrudgingly. Our attitude may be as Cain’s in that we try to hide this sin from God but he knows. While we may not be the direct cause of someone’s detriment as Cain was to Abel, our lack of response to help when we have ability to is not great either. God showed his great love and mercy in forgiving us of our sins. We didn’t deserve it but “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8  

May we remember the focus of the parable Jesus gave in Matthew 25 to love every person and serve anyone we can. Such love for others glorifies God by reflecting our love for him. In us, one who has yet to know Jesus Christ and accept him, may come to know him through our godly concern and actions for their well-being. Amen

About Jason M. Alexandre

Jason Melchizedek Alexandre was born in November of 1989 in Brooklyn, N.Y. His family later moved to Philadelphia, Pa., and he now resides in Limerick, Pa. In May of 2014, Jason obtained his Master of Social Work degree at Widener University. Professionally, Jason counsels persons who are homeless, parents, veterans, and others who suffer from various kinds of abuse. Although Jason’s career is Social Work, his spiritual passion is missions. Jason believes in actively answering the Great Commission call Jesus gave all Christians for the Gospel to be spread from person-to-person and nation-to-nation. Annually, Jason travels primarily to Haiti on a mission trip with Haiti Christianity Inc. Each year, Haiti Christianity, Inc., visits cities and/or villages in Haiti bringing children educational supplies, clothing, and medical supplies. They also facilitate conferences in which bible study, budgeting tips, financial planning and most importantly, evangelization takes place. Jason is currently the organization’s public relations director. Jason’s vision is for the gospel to continue to spread throughout the world and believes it is Christian’s responsibility to carry out this mission effectively. To learn more about the organization for which Jason volunteers, please visit www.HaitiChristianity.org.