Following the God Who TransformsНамуна

Read: Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD. 2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. 3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

The God Who Sees

Out of sight, out of mind. Whether you watch a sitcom, scroll through your social media feed, or attend a political rally, you are unlikely to see or hear much about people living in poverty. Our society glorifies the glamorous, and ignores the suffering. When we do pay attention, we often fail to see beyond the superficial. We may offer a token response, or none at all. But God sees.

The psalmist depicts God bending down from his heavenly throne and seeing past the princes in their palaces all the way down to the hungry person eating from a dumpster, the homeless person sleeping under a bridge. In God’s eyes those whom society has left behind are not only seen — they are to be restored to community and given an honored place at the table. The childless woman becomes the happy mother of children. As you move through your day, ask God to open your eyes to see those whom God sees, as he sees them.

Prayer

Lord, you show your glory in your love for the people you have made, and especially for those who suffer. Help us to join you in offering help and hope to those in need. Guide our leaders and us as we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you. Amen.

Today's audio was narrated by Jim Lyon: General Director, Church of God Ministries for the United States and Canada.