Meditation

Meditation for 07/25/2019

“Do not oppress an alien, you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)

Beloved, this warning is against mistreating foreigners by taking legal advantage of them in the courts. Such persons are a special kind of homeless and require a special kind of protection. God’s people concern themselves with the rights of homeless foreigners as well as all other human rights.

Native Americans were here long before we ever came into this country. Our ancestors entered this country, and were processed at one of several ports of entry. They then began the process of becoming American citizens, subject to all the rights and responsibilities provided under the constitution of our great nation. Those people sought to become citizens and began to melt into what we refer to simply as Americans.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Abba, help us to be respectful of those who choose to come to this country and to become our newest citizen’s. Help us to discern the best ways to accomplish this task, and to help those who have chosen to come to the country, to learn this truth and to commit to becoming part of one of the greatest nations on earth at this time. Guide us by Your Spirit to do all of this efficiently and thoroughly and with love and compassion towards our new neighbors. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“God has never lacked the power to work through ordinary available people.”

KNOWING GOD:

“The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the Lord. The same laws and regulations will apply both to yo and to the alien living among yo. One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a native-born Israelite or an alien.” (Numbers 15:15-16, 29)

God’s law is the same for homeless foreigners as for His chosen people. God views the sins of both the same. To treat the wrongdoing of homeless foreigners in a different way is to mistreat them. God’s people are to protect foreigners in our midst without property and to treat them properly. Human rights are to be a concern for those who serve the purposes of God.

I AM:

Discipleship, Homeless: (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)

God shows no partiality and accepts no bribes, nor should His people. God loves and defends the rights of those whom others oppress and mistreat. He leads His people to do the same thing. Homeless foreigners are of special concern to Him.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.” (Deuteronomy 12:19)

In make provision for the families and servants. God cautioned against neglecting the landless Levites who had no allotment or inheritance of their own. Levites were charged with caring for the tabernacle and its furniture. These special servants transported the tabernacle when the camp moved, erected the tent when they rested, and assisted the priests in their services. Levites began serving at the age of twenty and retired from active service at fifty.

Some continued to assist those who succeeded them after retirement. Not all homeless people are necessarily poor. Some serve in ways that make purchasing a home unwise, and some live in public housing. Some live in church property. God’s people should be careful not to neglect such persons as they make provision for others.