A Spiritual Story of Hope and Service
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Happy sabbath brothers and sisters!
Inspired by Matthew 4:4
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”— Matthew 4:4
In a world hungering not only for food but for compassion, guidance, and truth, these words spoken by Jesus in the wilderness echo like living water to dry souls. He spoke them when tempted by the enemy — a reminder that while physical nourishment sustains the body, it is the Word of God that gives life to the soul.
Today, this truth is embodied in the humble and faithful life of Sofonie Dala, a Chevening Scholar from Angola, living in York, United Kingdom. She is a servant of God called to walk a path of love, justice, and compassion. Her story is one of both giving and receiving — of distributing food to the hungry, and at times, walking to food banks in her own time of need.
Through every step, whether in abundance or lack, Sofonie has seen the hand of God — a testimony of faith in action, anchored in purpose and fueled by hope. She serves not for recognition, but because God’s love compels her.
This path of service reflects the timeless wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, who said:
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
True fulfillment comes when we give ourselves in service to those in need. This is not just a moral truth — it is a divine principle, taught and lived by Jesus Himself.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”— Matthew 20:26-28
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”— Mark 10:43-45
Christ redefined greatness. It is not found in status, but in sacrifice; not in being served, but in serving others.
Sofonie’s work aligns deeply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
- SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
- SDG 1 – No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
These global goals are also God's heart. Throughout Scripture, God commands us to care for the poor and feed the hungry:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?”— Isaiah 58:6-7
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”— Matthew 25:35-40
But just as Jesus was tested by the enemy in the wilderness, God’s children today are also tested. There are those — acting under the influence of evil — who persecute, mock, and cause suffering to the faithful, trying to see if they will fall or if God will intervene.
Jesus said:
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”— Matthew 4:7
In a world hungering not only for food but for compassion, guidance, and truth, these words spoken by Jesus in the wilderness echo like living water to dry souls. He spoke them when tempted by the enemy — a reminder that while physical nourishment sustains the body, it is the Word of God that gives life to the soul.
Today, this truth is embodied in the humble and faithful life of Sofonie Dala, a Chevening Scholar from Angola, living in York, United Kingdom. She is a servant of God called to walk a path of love, justice, and compassion. Her story is one of both giving and receiving — of distributing food to the hungry, and at times, walking to food banks in her own time of need.
Through every step, whether in abundance or lack, Sofonie has seen the hand of God — a testimony of faith in action, anchored in purpose and fueled by hope. She serves not for recognition, but because God’s love compels her.
This path of service reflects the timeless wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, who said:
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
True fulfillment comes when we give ourselves in service to those in need. This is not just a moral truth — it is a divine principle, taught and lived by Jesus Himself.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”— Matthew 20:26-28
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”— Mark 10:43-45
Christ redefined greatness. It is not found in status, but in sacrifice; not in being served, but in serving others.
Sofonie’s work aligns deeply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
- SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
- SDG 1 – No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
These global goals are also God's heart. Throughout Scripture, God commands us to care for the poor and feed the hungry:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?”— Isaiah 58:6-7
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”— Matthew 25:35-40
But just as Jesus was tested by the enemy in the wilderness, God’s children today are also tested. There are those — acting under the influence of evil — who persecute, mock, and cause suffering to the faithful, trying to see if they will fall or if God will intervene.
Jesus said:
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”— Matthew 4:7
Let us be warned: while people may try to test God by harming His children, God is not blind, nor is He mocked. His justice may be delayed, but it will never fail.
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.— Romans 12:19
To those who persecute and oppress, a day of reckoning will surely come. God's justice will not miss its mark. But as for the faithful — we must not lose heart.
Like Sofonie, we are called to keep loving, keep serving, and keep shining. Whether feeding someone else or receiving a meal in our time of need, we are never alone — for God walks with the humble, strengthens the weary, and lifts the brokenhearted.
A Final Prayer:
Lord, bless the hands that give and the hands that receive. Let our hearts burn with Your compassion. May we never grow weary of doing good, and may we always remember that in Your kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves. Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.
Amen.
Note: If you missed the previous webisodes about nourishment, food, and Divine Providence, you can catch up here:
🔗 From Scarcity to Overflow – A Testimony of Provision and Faith (April 2025)
🔗 Divine Providence – A Journey of Faith, Love, and Miracles (March 2025)
References
Sofonie Dala. (2025, April). From scarcity to overflow: Testimony of provision and faith. Sofonie Green Mission. https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/04/from-scarcity-to-overflow-testimony-of.html
Sofonie Dala. (2025, March). Divine providence: Journey of faith, love, and miracles. Sofonie Green Mission. https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/03/divine-providence-journey-of-faith-love.html
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