“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/12/06/unlikely-encouragement/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht 

Exodus 22:22-24… “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; ²⁴ and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”  (NKJV)

Yesterday, I wrote about how God looks at each and every person in the same way…  A wealthy person doesn’t have any advantage over a street beggar, at getting into heaven…We are all born a sinner in God’s eyes…Romans 3:23…  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  (NKJV)

But God does have a soft spot for widows and orphans, which we can clearly see in the opening scripture… There is much scripture teaching us about helping those that are less fortunate than ourselves…Deuteronomy 15:11…  For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’  (NKJV)

David, who wrote half of the Book of Psalms, knew the Lord wanted him to help the poor; as we read in this scripture penned by him, in…Psalm 41:1… Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.  (NKJV)

And David’s son Solomon, who penned almost half of the Book of Proverbs, and was made the wisest man in the world by God (1 Kings 3:12) wrote this, in…Proverbs 19:17… He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.  (NKJV)

Notice what this scripture states…  Our giving to the poor is a loan to the Lord… And the Lord will “pay back” what we have given… There is much scripture written about giving of our time and resources… But how and why we give, makes all the difference… The Apostle Paul teaches us this, in…2 Corinthians 9:6-7…  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  (NKJV)

So as opportunity presents itself this Christmas season…look for ways to help those around you in need… Give out of your love for the poor, from your resources…  Give what you can afford to give…  God knows what you are capable of giving, and will bless you for your efforts…  But give from the heart, without looking to receive anything in return…

Heavenly Father, help all of us to understand the best way to use the resources You have given us, to help those that are less fortunate… Whether it is a church offering, or a donation of our time or of our resources to others that are in need…urge us to give with a “cheerful” heart… Help us Lord, to love those around us as You love us…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills