Excerpt

Happy are those who consider the poor;
the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.

Psalm 41:1

Click here to read all of Psalm 41

Prayer
I confess, Lord Jesus, that it’s easy for me to forget the poor. In my daily life I don’t see them very much because I live in such a sheltered environment. And, besides, it’s messy to think about the poor. Their problems are so large; the solutions so overwhelming. Yet I know that You care for the poor. If I’m to be Your disciple, if I’m to have a heart like Yours, if I’m to live in a way that honors You, then concern for the weak, the homeless, and the hungry is essential. Help me to care for the least of these, Your brothers and sisters.
Thank You, gracious God, for Psalm 41, and for so many other parts of Your Word that remind me of the needy and the oppressed. Through the Scripture You challenge me, stretch me, and point me to what really matters. Sometimes I’d rather not experience these things because, frankly, they’re not comfortable. But I need Your Word to enlarge my vision and discipline my heart. So, thanks be to You for the impact of Your Word on my life.

Postscript

Scripture reveals a close connection between God and the poor. I’m continually challenged by verses such as these from Proverbs:

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him. (14:31)

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and will be repaid in full. (19:17)

In the last few years, Irvine Presbyterian Church
has been sending teams of people to southern Africa.
There we join with local Christians to reach out
with the love of Christ, caring especially for the poor.