Meditation

06/23/2020

“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus19:14)

Motivated by unselfish love, the people of God will not do anything to harm a handicapped person. For example, we will not ridicule deaf persons who cannot hear, because it is not right and they can read lips and know what we are saying, much better than we do. They may have a disadvantage, but they have learned to overcome and work around their lack of hearing.

We also do not put any kind of a hindrance (log, chair, etc.) in the way of a blind person. They learn to maneuver around without sight, again it’s a disadvantage, but they can work around their lack of sight. We will not take advantage of any handicapped person, for we remember that God sees and hears everything. He punishes those who mistreat the handicapped, whatever that entails. As Christians we know we are not perfect, but are forgiven. We treat others, as we ourselves hope to be treated.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, as Your people, we have a ways to go, to learn how to treat others. They may be handicapped by sight/hearing/speech, or a myriad of physical/mental/spiritual handicaps, but we will never be confused as to how much You love us. Please continue to walk with us and talk with us, and to share our lives with us, as we love You too. It is in Jesus’ precious name that we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“The best Christmas gift ever was wrapped in a manger!”

KNOWING GOD:

“’Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road.’ Then all the people will say, Amen.’” (Deuteronomy27:18)

A friend of my Mother’s from a farm community they grew up in had a daughter who was deaf, but could read lips and had her sight. She could not speak, but we were together on a 4^th of July picnic about 1960 or 61. The national anthem had just played and I looked at her and said, “I wish you could hear the music.” She then, signed the anthem for me, and I was taken aback. It was once of the most beautiful and expressive renditions of the national anthem I had ever witnessed. She wrote me a quick note, “listen with your heart, always!”

Those of us who have been born without handicaps of speech, hearing, and sight, could learn a few things of our own about problems. Handicaps can be anything that brings a problem for us, such as: unable to retain knowledge long enough to pass a test, unable to appreciate the gift of finishing a job that we start, or the inability to make friends with others. I’m being a little light-hearted and do not want to offend those with serious handicaps. However, I have come to learn handicaps can keep us from being who God wants us to be. He wants us to not focus on that which is the gift that God has given us and not that which may give us some heartache in achieving Your will for us.

I AM:

“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” (Luke14:13)

Jesus told His Pharisee host he should have a banquet for handicapped persons rather than for relatives and rich friends. Then he would receive God’s blessings. The handicapped should anticipate fully in our programs and fellowship. God welcomes the handicapped with their special gifts into His kingdom. According to Matthew 25:34-46, When the Lord returns, the distinction between those who served God and those who did not will be made clear as all stand before the judgment seat for the great separation. Beloved, the way we served will determine whether or not we are Christ’s disciples. Those who serve with proper motives serve the Lord by serving people in need. They will be rewarded with the inheritance of he kingdom God has prepared since the beginning of time. Those who are not Christ’s disciples will receive eternal punishment as their lot.

Second Thought of the Day:

Churches, wherever possible, should have special programs and make special provision for handicapped people. Our work with the handicapped should bring praise to God, beloved. If it does not, we need to take a closer look at what we are doing.

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” (Matthew15:30–31)

Jesus did not turn away the handicapped, but blessed them according to their needs. Our compassion as disciples should cause us to minister to the needs of handicapped persons, but always those in need. Sometimes, it is hard to determine that people need and this requires us to listen or see whatever their need truly is.