Eyes to SeeSample

There is so much need around the world and in our own country, and so many competing ideas of how to respond. But God hasn’t left us adrift without a guide. This week, we’ll explore how the Bible reveals God’s heart for the poor and His plan to restore hearts and lives through the actions of His people.

God has a heart for the poor. This is revealed to us in the Bible and exemplified to us in the life of Jesus. As the Church, it is our calling to follow Christ’s example in living out God’s heart for the poor. Jesus founded only one institution while on earth—the Church—and it is His only plan for advancing His Kingdom.

Reflect:

• Many passages in the Bible tell us about God’s heart for the poor, showing that He is a God of justice, mercy, and compassion (i.e., Leviticus 23:22, Isaiah 58, Micah 6:8). How familiar are you with this part of God’s character? What parts of God’s character are you more familiar with? Less familiar with? Why do you think that is?
• How do you think Israel felt while waiting for their promised King? Can you relate to this waiting or doubting in your own life experiences?
• What does Jesus’s mission—as proclaimed by Him in Luke 4:18-19— life and actions tell us about God’s character? How did Jesus exemplify the upside-down life we talked about last week?

Respond:

• How would you respond to someone who questions God’s goodness, justice, compassion, and mercy in light of all the world's brokenness, suffering, poverty, and injustice?
• What do today’s Bible passages tell us about how we should act in the world and respond to poverty and injustice as Christians and as the Church?

Pray:

God, we praise You for Your deep compassion, justice, and mercy and how You care deeply for the poor and vulnerable in our world. Thank You for the example You sent us in Your son, Jesus. We ask that You would grant churches worldwide strength, courage, protection, and mercy as they reflect Your love to those in need in their communities. We pray especially for persecuted churches and churches who may be in economic poverty as they serve those living in poverty in their communities. We pray that those who churches around the world serve would be healed, renewed, and transformed in all aspects of their lives—spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally—by the local church's love and care. Amen.