Prayer: Father, You have established a master plan which cares for everyone, including the widow, orphan, and the poor. If only we would listen and apply Your word. Amen.
Reading: Deuteronomy 24 key: vs. 19
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you are not to turn back to get it. It is for the outsider, for the orphan and for the widow—in order that Adonai your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Attention: If you were to ask me who the most disadvantaged people were in the world, I would tell you the widow, the orphan, and the poor. For the demographics of widows, orphans, and poor, there are no colors, ethnic group, or economic grouping. For every nation on earth have widows, orphans, and poor. Some nations have more widows, orphans, and poor due to war or epidemics, but all countries have widows, orphans, and poor.
I believe these people groups are the most disadvantaged people on earth and the most loved by God. Yes, I know that God loves everyone, but He has certain groups which He has a special love toward. If you have never read The Hole In Our Gospel, former World Vision CEO Richard Stearns establishes the mandate for caring for the two-thirds world poor. If you have never read about George Muller who built five large orphanages and cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime or my book The Widows Project: Serving The Widowed With The Father’s Heart, I encourage you to receive from these authors a greater perception of the need which surrounds us, and God mandates our care for them.
For widows, I reference James (Jacob) 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
For the poor, I reference Matthew 25: 44 “Then they too will answer, saying, ‘Lord when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for You? Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ These will go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”
There is a consequence for not seeing and not caring for the widow, the orphan, and the poor. If we really believe the consequence for inaction, nothing can prevent us from doing something for their care.
Action: I choose to be actively involved in caring for the widow, orphan, and the poor, in Jesus’ name.
Yield: I choose to give myself to the care of widows, orphans, and the poor.
Engage: I choose to engage with my local fellowship in caring for widows, orphans, and the poor.
Relationships: I choose to engage in the kingdom work of caring for widows, orphans, and the poor.
Prayer: Father, I hear Your call to be Your hands and feet to specific people groups. I will be an advocate for widow and orphan care and helping the poor. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse: James (Jacob) 1:27
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Music Video: Keith Green—To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice https://youtu.be/TzWyZxlwGKI
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”