Sleep was elusive toward morning, Father, so as the day has progressed, I am a little less motivated. Help me to clearly hear Your word for this day. Amen.
Luke 18:35-43 (<<click here to read the passage)
It’s fascinating how where I am in Luke’s Gospel lines up so well with what I’ve been speaking on at church. When I read for my blog I don’t jump ahead, I read the portion for that day and that is all. Now there are times when a portion is substantial, and I break it down into bite-size pieces. But that isn’t the norm.
As the quote goes “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform…” (and a little FYI, this is not in the Bible, it is the first line of a hymn written in 1773 by William Cowper).
In my message Sunday I spoke about how we are called to grieve over evil and injustice in our world. Truly we are in no better position than the people of Jesus’ day. God’s Laws specifically address our responsibility in meeting the needs of those less fortunate than we are. In Leviticus 25:35 it says,

‘Now if your fellow countryman becomes poor and his hand falters with you [that is, he has trouble repaying you for something], then you are to help and sustain him, [with courtesy and consideration] like [you would] a stranger or a temporary resident [without property], so that he may live among you. AMP

In this Biblical account shared by Luke, God’s command was not being lived out.

…a blind man was sitting beside the road begging. Luke 18:35 NLT

My study Bible* says,

Beggars often would wait along the roads near cities because that was where they could contact the most people. Usually disabled in some way, beggars were unable to earn a living. Medical help was not available for their problems, and people tended to ignore their obligation to care for the needy. Thus, beggars had little hope of escaping their degrading way of life.

When was the last time we took care to help and sustain someone, [with courtesy and consideration] so that they may live among us?
I must admit I struggle here myself. When I see panhandlers (beggars) at intersections I have an awful habit of looking the other way. My mind goes to “There are jobs literally everywhere! Why don’t they get a job?” Now admittedly some are probably very capable, but we (and that includes me!) don’t really know!
Some have mental issues. Some have drug addictions that control their lives. We are not in their shoes. We have no idea what they are going through! Who are we to judge? But for the grace of God where would we be? The life of addiction is a slippery slope. They get so far up out of the hole they find themselves in and it doesn’t take much to knock them back down to the bottom. Some continually try to get out of the hole, while others have resigned themselves to believe there is no getting out.
Jesus is the only way this beggar got out. Now I typed that thinking of the blind man in today’s passage, but it aptly applies to me, too. I was incapable of getting myself out of the hole of sin and all of its trappings, but Jesus made a way for me to do so and I am so grateful He did…
Lord Jesus, help us to fulfill Your commands. Help us to realize that we have been saved from the impossible circumstances and we are to be Your hands and feet in the world around us for those in need. Amen.

*Life Application Study Bible Living Translation

Oct 26th, 2020, Mon, 1:11 pm