MEMORISE:
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverb 11:25
READ: Psalm 41:1-3
1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
MESSAGE
The poor have always had a special place in God’s heart, and for this reason, you will observe that caring for them is a high priority obligation for those who walk with Him. Abraham was so addicted to caring for the poor that he organized a feast for total strangers who were just passing by (Genesis 18:2-5). When God was giving the Mosaic Law, He ensured that His people recognized the poor in their society, and He required them to make special provisions for them (Leviticus 19:9-10). When the Lord Jesus Christ came to demonstrate the nature and character of God to us, He showed compassion to the poor and preached the gospel to them (Mark 8:2, Luke 7:22). Having learnt from Him, the early disciples also made provisions for the poor (Romans 15:26). Caring for the poor is therefore a cardinal aspect of our faith as Christians (Galatians 2:20).
In today’s Bible reading, the blessedness of giving to the poor is revealed to us. One of the blessings associated with this good deed is that as you remember to cater for the poor, you are unknowingly ministering deliverance to yourself. Psalm 41:1 says that the Lord will deliver those who consider the poor in the time of trouble, He means all kinds of trouble: be it financial, physical, spiritual, marital or career-wise. When the widow of Zarephath considered giving her last meal to the hungry prophet, little did she know that she was ministering deliverance from starvation to herself and her household (1 Kings 17:9-14). The Lord will also preserve and keep alive those who remember the poor. In other words, if you are praying for long life, a sure path to receiving this is by giving to the poor. God will grant you long life so that the poor who depend on you will consistently have something to live on through you.
Additionally, those who remember the poor will be blessed upon the earth. In other words, the Lord will make material provisions available for them to the point of overflow. As a matter of fact, if you are a farmer, you will reap a bumper harvest with which you can carry out the divine assignment of feeding the poor, because you cannot give what you do not have. As a business person or contractor, you will not lack contracts, and your turnover shall be divinely influenced. It is one thing to make money, and it is another thing to spend the money on good things. Many people spend a large proportion of their income on sickness, so much so that those with less income are far better off. To those who remember the poor, the Lord has given a great promise to visit and strengthen them whenever they are sick (Psalm 41:3). Imagine what will happen when the Great Healer comes visiting you when you are sick and He makes your bed for you. This is nothing but free healing on a platter of gold. What a heart-warming promise of God this is! I therefore encourage you to remember the poor around you today and consistently put a smile on the face of the destitute.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, as I show love and care to the poor, please bless me according to Your promises.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 4-6 Jeremiah 5:18-6:5
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.
1.While passing thro' this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.
Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
2. Your life's a book before their eyes,
They're reading it thro' and thro'
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?
Refrain
3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.
Refrain
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