June 16, 2024 8:00 pm
A few years ago, our church was invited to host refugees fleeing their country after a tumultuous change in political leadership. Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, including some who had little room to spare.
Their gracious hospitality reflects God’s command to the Israelites when they entered the promised land (Deuteronomy 24:19-21). As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest. The crops were essential to get them through until next year. This makes God’s command to “leave [some] for the foreigner, fatherless and widow” (v. 19) also a request to trust Him. The Israelites were to practice generosity not by giving only when they knew they had enough but giving out of a heart that trusts God’s provision.
Such hospitality was also a reminder “that you were slaves in Egypt” (vv. 18, 22). They were once oppressed and destitute. Their generosity was a reminder of God’s graciousness to them in freeing them from bondage.
Believers in Jesus are similarly urged to be generous. Paul reminds us, “Though [Christ] was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). We give because He gave to us.
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Hey, my friend. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. The reading for today, titled Generous Faith, was written by Matt Lucas. A few years ago, our church was invited to host refugees fleeing their country after a tumultuous change in political leadership.
Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, including some who have little room to spare. Their gracious hospitality reflects God's triple command to the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land in Deuteronomy chapter 24. As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest.
The crops were essential to get them through until the next year. This makes God's command to leave some for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, also a request to trust Him. The Israelites were to practice generosity not by giving only when they knew they had enough, but giving out of a heart that trusts God's provision. Such hospitality was also a reminder that they were slaves in Egypt.
They were once oppressed and destitute. Their generosity was a reminder of God's graciousness to them in freeing them from bondage. Believers in Jesus are similarly urged to be generous.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 8, Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Deuteronomy chapter 24 verses 17 through 22. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. Let's pray. Dear Father, please open our eyes to the needs of the marginalized in our community and move in our hearts to meet their needs as we are able. May your love and your compassion be seen in how we care for them. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Hey, thanks so much for listening today. My name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-06-16 21:30:38 / 2024-06-16 21:32:06 / 1
