Beyond Mere Words
If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17
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It is a recurring theme through both the Old and New Testaments: God cares about the needs of the poor. In the Old Testament he reminds Israel through the counsel of the prophets to remember the needy, the orphan, and the widow. In the New Testament Jesus showed the disciples that the crowd could better grasp spiritual food when their need for physical food had been met. Jesus set aside the disciples’ concern and pulled little children onto his lap. He ignored the cultural prejudice of his day to offer living water to the woman at the well. Each of those acts demonstrated a love that went beyond mere words.
A sermon means very little to those who are physically hungry and offers scant warmth to the one suffering in the cold, but a hand extended in compassion and love speaks volumes. One lost man once said, “Don’t tell me that you care about my soul. Show me that you care, and I will respond.” Are you demonstrating God’s love and compassion through your actions?
Prayer:
LORD, I recognize that your heart beats with compassion for the poor, the fatherless, and the widow. To those who are cold, let me offer what they need to be warm. To those who are hungry, let me sacrifice so that they and their children might have food. Help me to see beyond the comfort of my own world and reach out with actions that show your love.
Quotes:
IF WE HAVE GOT THE TRUE LOVE OF GOD SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS, WE WILL SHOW IT IN OUR LIVES. WE WILL NOT HAVE TO GO UP AND DOWN THE EARTH PROCLAIMING IT. WE WILL SHOW IT IN EVERYTHING WE SAY OR DO.
D. L. Moody (1837–1899)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: 1 Chronicles 26:12–27:34; Romans 4:13–5:5; Psalm 14:1-7 and Proverbs 19:17.
