Verse of the Day 3/28

Through the Bible - Joshua 23-24, Luke 7:1-35

Good morning,
In my devotional reading this morning I was in Proverbs 31 and Luke 7 (above).
Today's verse comes from Proverbs 31 which challenges us to defend the cause of the speechless, the poor, and the needy.
Prov 31:8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy. NKJV
These were the words of the "wise king". MacArthur comments that "the king's duty was to righteously uphold the case of the helpless in both physical (v.6) and material (v.9) crises. The monarch thus mediates the compassion of God."
Where the king or government fail in their responsibilities to do this, God's people are to step in. Israel and Judah were often rebuked for neglecting the poor and needy as were the pharisees in Jesus' time on earth.
In Luke 7 in today's reading Jesus had this to say:
Luke 7:22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." NKJV
Are we to depend and wait for the government to step in and solve the problems? It would be nice, but I'm afraid we'd never stop waiting.

Reading these passages I was reminded of the old hymn, "Make Me a Blessing", may it be our prayer today.

Make Me a Blessing
Out on the highways and byways of life,
Many are the weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Chorus
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True every moment you live.


Chorus
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Chorus
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.



In Christ,

Mike

Prov 31:1-10
31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
5 Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
NKJV