S05E003, Do Your Part! Andy B 2 Minute Video
During the Second World War there were posters with “Do Your Part” These were more commonly used by the US to seek to inspire American women to get involved in the war effort, from the Home Front – working in machine shops, factories, farms and wherever they were needed. They didn’t go to fight, but they did support those doing so.
During COVID we saw similar campaigns with slogans like Do Your Part, Stay Apart – designed to get us to keep a certain distance from each other.
In both situations the slogan was used to seek to inspire people into doing something about the situation they were surrounded by – on the Home Front.
With an 80% rise in gas and electric costs here in the UK, and much of Europe struggling with rising costs that people have no hope of ever meeting, we see terror and fear around us as people face a very dark and grim winter. I just heard on the news that 25% of households in the UK have stated they will not be turning on their central heating systems when the weather turns colder.
This throws up some serious issues as the British weather can get very damp and cold, and because our houses are designed to function with central heating. If you simply don’t turn on the heating, you’ll ultimately risk structural damage, damp, mould and serious ill health – even death.
As Christians there is, at first glance, very little we can hope to do about this situation as there isn’t much we can do on a global scale – which is what is truly needed. However, there is much we can do on the Home Front, because we can all Do Our Part!
For example, we can make ourselves to our work colleagues and listen to their struggles. We are not immune from the issues and worries of this world. We do, however, know peace, because we know Jesus.
So don’t despair friends about what you can or can’t do, or about the problems facing people. Jesus already won the victory on that old wooden cross. And, when Jesus uttered the words “It is finished” He was also saying that we have no need to fear even death, He defeated it for us.
So, “Do Your Part” and make sure you are shining the light and hope of Jesus Christ to the people you meet in your everyday lives. We could all do with a touch more hope, and you can be the bearer of it.
There is much to be afraid of. There is much that is bringing terror.
But, above it all is Jesus Christ – and He is the peace and hope that our world needs, so Do Your Part and don’t try and hide Jesus. He is, after all, the only solution to a fearful people, including ourselves!
Just a thought...
Andy B
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Transcript
0:06
So, another Andy B 2 Minute Video, and the title for this one may conjure up some memories for you from World War Two. It may actually conjure up some memories from the COVID, troubled years. And it's simply this Do Your Part.
0:20
Now, during COVID, We had "Do Your Part, Stay Apart", was one of the the famous things that were said. And it was on leaflets, and health and safety things, and all sorts of governments were using this around the world do your part stay apart. Works better in English, obviously, because it rhymes.
0:36
In the second world war do your part it was much more associated with women getting involved. Whether that was going to work machines, or on the farms or, or making bullets, or whatever. It was very much associated with women doing your part. So Do Your Part is very much of the Home Front idea. What can you do in your society to make it better? What's your bit? What can you do?
0:58
As we look around the world in the UK at the moment, particularly, we're looking at a 2% rise in energy costs, that's terrifying. People now pay more for their energy than they are for food for mortgage, sometimes even for rent. And that's quite terrifying! And, if you don't know Jesus Christ, and you don't have the peace that transcends all understanding, the peace that goes beyond everything, you may well be experiencing the same fear that I see, but that does not envelope me, because I have peace.
1:25
So, what's that got to do with do your part? Well, we're told reduce your energy. That was the unhelpful advice from a government minister in the UK, 'just reduce your outgoings and then you'll have more money for utilities'. Whilst missing the fact that people are already not eating, and not having hot water, and not been able to fix their kids' shoes, and they have no money to save. It was unhelpful. That is not doing your part. That is unhelpful!
1:50
But, Do Your Part as Christians. Well, what can we do? We can't go and fix global prices for heating. We can't pay for everybody's house to be warm. We can't remove the fear. But, what we can do, as followers of Jesus Christ, is we can go into people's lives. How do you do that? You can't go knocking on doors, and unwelcomed, coming in.
2:10
Well, in your workplace, is there a break room? Can you sit down in there and have your lunch? Be in a place where people can know that you're going to be there, and be a voice of peace. You haven't got to preach the gospel. You haven't got to have sermons blaring out of your phone. That's just going to push people away! But, you can sit and you can listen, you can do your part in this crisis, as you always should be. You can pray,
2:32
Never ever, ever underestimate the power of prayer. It is beyond amazing that God wants us to speak to Him, desires that, and so desires it because our prayers, change situations.
2:42
Do Your Part simply means this. Look around the situations where you are. What can you do to bring Jesus' love, peace, hope into where you are already? So do your part for Jesus.
2:55
Just a thought