He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.
—Proverbs 14:21
Helping the poor and those who are less fortunate than we are is not only a nice thing to do, but according to the Bible, it is our responsibility. God cares deeply for the poor and needy and seems to have a special place in His heart for the widow and the orphan because they are alone and unable to meet all their needs. God gives us hearts of compassion, but when needs arise we can’t close our hearts—we need to open our hearts and our hands wide to help the poor.
When we give to the poor, the Bible says that we lend to the Lord. Anything we give to help hurting people, God will always return many times over. Not only will He meet our needs, but our joy will increase as a result of giving in love. I urge you to share what you have with those who are less fortunate than you are.
Power Thought: I am always merciful and generous to the poor.
Carrying God’s Kingdom to the World
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”
Luke 10:10–12
In 1942, Dr. Charles Weigel was in a revival meeting in California. He spent the afternoon between services visiting a large rose garden. He said that when he got to church that evening, people remarked on the smell of the roses that he carried with him when he left the garden. He had not gone to the rose garden for that purpose, but spending time there had an effect on his life, and on others as well. Weigel wrote his song, “A Garden of Roses Is Jesus” after that experience.
When Jesus sent seventy of His followers out in teams to preach the gospel, they were to say that God’s kingdom was coming to the towns and villages that they visited. That kingdom was not an earthly kingdom to have its power displayed by armies and military might, but by simple men who had believed and followed Jesus, and as a result were like Him.
The world today is in desperate need of seeing Christians who bear the mark of those who have been influenced by their time spent with Jesus. This is how the disciples turned the world upside down, and the power of His presence is no less in our day. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Luke 10:10–12
In 1942, Dr. Charles Weigel was in a revival meeting in California. He spent the afternoon between services visiting a large rose garden. He said that when he got to church that evening, people remarked on the smell of the roses that he carried with him when he left the garden. He had not gone to the rose garden for that purpose, but spending time there had an effect on his life, and on others as well. Weigel wrote his song, “A Garden of Roses Is Jesus” after that experience.
When Jesus sent seventy of His followers out in teams to preach the gospel, they were to say that God’s kingdom was coming to the towns and villages that they visited. That kingdom was not an earthly kingdom to have its power displayed by armies and military might, but by simple men who had believed and followed Jesus, and as a result were like Him.
The world today is in desperate need of seeing Christians who bear the mark of those who have been influenced by their time spent with Jesus. This is how the disciples turned the world upside down, and the power of His presence is no less in our day. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Everyone with whom we come in contact should be able to tell that they have met a follower of Jesus Christ.
Help Hurting People
by Joyce Meyer - posted April 17, 2016He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.
—Proverbs 14:21
Helping the poor and those who are less fortunate than we are is not only a nice thing to do, but according to the Bible, it is our responsibility. God cares deeply for the poor and needy and seems to have a special place in His heart for the widow and the orphan because they are alone and unable to meet all their needs. God gives us hearts of compassion, but when needs arise we can’t close our hearts—we need to open our hearts and our hands wide to help the poor.
When we give to the poor, the Bible says that we lend to the Lord. Anything we give to help hurting people, God will always return many times over. Not only will He meet our needs, but our joy will increase as a result of giving in love. I urge you to share what you have with those who are less fortunate than you are.
Power Thought: I am always merciful and generous to the poor.
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