“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of [the enemy], for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)
We serve a God who never fails. His love, mercy, and compassion is never failing. He cares for His people like a mother for a newborn baby. Since the very beginning, God has been there for all. In fact, God didn’t choose a people so he could have subjects to pour love on. He chose a people to be the light on a hill to the rest of the world. God gave the descendants of Jacob the promised land – a land placed in the geographical center of their known world. Then God gives his people specific commands to remember their times of need, and care for those who are also in need. God created us in His image so we can reflect Him to those around us.
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.’”
(Leviticus 19:9-10 NIV)
“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”
(Deuteronomy 10:19 NIV)
Oh, how God is wonderful. A gracious God, above all. A loving, strong leader. A Father worth reflection, praise, following, and much more. He created mankind, in His image, to worship them. To love them. Created in His image. He wanted a creation that He could love and would love Him back. He doesn’t need our love, but He wants to shower us with His. Since the very beginning He has cradled the world and cared for all. God was looking for a partner. Someone who would faithfully walk with Him and trust Him so he could carry out his mission to every end of the Earth.
So, just as God does, He’s asked His people to be a people of radical generosity. Hospitable when not convenient. A people that eradicates the needs of those who have not the means to care for themselves. Not by force, but by love. Not by finding a way for those who cannot care for themselves to fit into this world, but by showering them with our love so as to pour out a portion of the heavenly kingdom to the outsiders, the orphans, the widows, and all others in need. And as we look towards the early church, we continue to see the radical generosity called for by God.
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
(Acts 2:44-45 NIV)
“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.”
(James 1:27 NIV)
This mission didn’t end 2,000 years ago. Today, there is still a need to take care of those who need help. As we reflect on God’s caring heart, let us ask ourselves if our lives reflect God’s generosity and love to those around us. As we continue on in our busy lives through this week, let’s continue to focus on radical generosity and hospitality. Remembering that God will always take care of our needs.
Have thoughts, questions, or other verses you think are applicable? Please leave a comment below! Join us as we focus this month on the radical love of God!
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