Verse of the Day - Deuteronomy 10:18-19

He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NKJV)

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Over and over again in the Old Testament, God calls His people to take care of strangers, widows and the fatherless. Seriously, over and over again! He lets His children know that these people are important to Him, that He cares for them in their circumstance. And if His children oppress these people, He's gonna "get the belt". Our God doesn't play when it comes to mistreating strangers, widows and the fatherless.

So, two things come to mind for me with this passage:

1. When people who don't know God try to say that He is a hard and mean God, I just don't get it. If they were to read from His own mouth what He has to say, of what and who are important to Him, how could they say that? How could they really believe that? He has such love and compassion on the helpless, AND He is committed to defending their cause and avenging their oppressors. If we looked at a human being who did that, we'd give them the Nobel Prize for humanitarianism and the key to ten cities! But a lot of people don't bother looking in the Bible to see what and who God is. They just go by hearsay or flat-out lies from the devil.

2. God puts "strangers" in the category with the widow and the fatherless. Wow. Different translations of the Bible say alien, foreigner, or stranger. The point is that these people don't "belong" -- they don't have a home, or they're not of the same culture, or both. God says, You better learn to love these people, too, because I care for them in their fears and need. This is a really big deal to me! Don't forget that you were a stranger in a foreign land, too. Hmm. Whenever I hear people talk bad about others coming from different countries into the U.S., I want to tell them (and I have), "Where do you think you came from?" There are almost no natural citizens of this soil called the USA, compared to the millions who walk it every day. We're practically all foreigners and strangers -- the "incoming". How DARE we try to turn our noses up at those now coming into our country? God says, Be careful. You're forgetting where you came from . . . You're forgetting the grace that was extended to you when your great-grandpa got off the boat, or your grandfather or father got off the plane. I extend grace -- if you are My child, you need to, also.

Strangers, widows and the fatherless. God loves them and cares for them. And He calls us to be there for them, too. I'm sure you can think of some people you know that fit these categories in your circle of influence. Being in a strange crowd of people that you're not a part of, losing your husband as a provider and source of strength, having no daddy to hug . . . these people need love and compassion. They need to know God is there for them.

Enter Stage Right: God's people.

Love,
Joelene