A heart for the homeless

They desired only that we should remember the poor. — Galatians 2:10

 Members of the First Presbyterian Church in Snohomish, Washington, had a large supply of leftovers from the celebration of their 125th anniversary. They decided to give the food to the women and children in a nearby homeless shelter. As a chilling rain poured down outside, volunteers unloaded containers, one of which included a large cake. Someone remarked, “I hope today is somebody’s birthday.” A homeless woman replied. “Every day inside is a holiday.”

Jesus knew the experience of homelessness. He said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). Yet no one had more compassion for the poor.

James emphasized the need for believers to help each other materially. He wrote, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them. ‘Despite in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (2:15-16).

We must help the spiritually destitute find a heavenly home by sharing the gospel with them, but we must never neglect those who are poor in this world’s goods. A heart for God will also be a heart for the homeless. — Vernon Grounds

More like the Master I would live and grow,

More of His love to others I would show;

More self-denial, like His in Galilee,

More like the Master I long to ever be. — Gabriel

READ: James 2:14-20

Compassion is love in action.

The Bible in one year:

• Psalms 105-106

• 1 Corinthians 3