In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Saturday, November 12

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ Lead Pastor

Read: James 1:27

James 1:27

New International Version (NIV)

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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Consider: In the Old Testament there were three groups of people who were singled out by God to be cared for and protected—the widows, the orphans and the immigrants. God commanded his people to serve them. Of course, we know that care for the vulnerable didn’t only apply to these three groups. The command was to care for all of those who are without resources. And God wasn’t kidding. If Israel neglected the widows, orphan and immigrants, they were not considered to be fit to be called the people of God.

While many things have changed, some things remain the same. Many women around the world are abused and suffer for lack of resources and lack of freedom. They find themselves in hellish conditions with no options. Immigrants and refugees are still despised by many. Nations keep closing their borders to men, women and children who have no safety and no home. And, of course, we know that no matter what the social sickness is—war, poverty, displacement, human trafficking, pornography, domestic abuse—those who suffer the most are the children.

As we’ve seen this week, we cannot limit our vision to those who are near to us. We have to look beyond our doors, our borders and our shores. The church of Jesus Christ must live out the call to be the people of God by following God’s heart for the most vulnerable of the world.

Tomorrow is World Orphan Sunday. Churches around the world will weep for the children, pray for the children, and ask God what we must do for the children. Please pray for the Church of Jesus Christ to follow God’s command.

Pray: “Lord, there are no easy answers. Most of the time we feel helpless. Our hearts break for those who suffer, but we don’t know what to do. Please guide us. We can’t do it alone, so we ask you to guide your church. Please use our hands, our feet, our prayers, our money—our hearts—to embrace the most vulnerable in our world.”