Sunday 6 Jul 2014

July 6: Psalm 82:1-4

Key Verse: Psalm 82:3
Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Devotion:
It really amazes me how many people will go along with something just because it looks like they may get something out of it or even so they may not have to get involved. Leaving things up to someone else who has other things on their mind may well end up in a horrible mess instead of the harmony they talk about. God wants us to take care of the people around us and not to just leave it to someone else to see what happens.

I see the same few people doing the same support work for the few needy people in the community. I see the same few people taking time out of their busy schedules to make sure that the needy can get some pleasure out of life. Much of the time those are the same few people who come to church and sit at the back or quietly go on about their business without looking for glory or thanks. Why then do so many complain about the lack of support to get themselves noticed?

I love helping people and I love to get involved with things; but getting involved often means mixing with others that want all the glory. It is very hard to let go and allow those people to get their own glory without feeling very hurt. Do they see what they are doing? Do they see how they are excluding others? I guess we will just have to be patient and see where it all goes… In the mean time I am going to continue putting myself on the line to help others without saying anything. When we see how Jesus put Himself out for so many people we need to stop and take notice! He did not do it so that He could be congratulated for all that He did; He did it because He loved the people around Him.

Loving people with open hearts means that you are more apt to help them without question and more likely to get great joy out of what you can do for them. There are many people who do not have the support that we may have enjoyed over the years and they now need our help to lift them up to a place where they can see how God cares for them. If we all ignore those needy people, they will see a God who is selfish and without love because we are God’s children!

Points to Ponder:
Do you know needy people?

What Would Jesus Do?