Weekly Watch Focus: Remember the Poor, Persecuted, and Homeless

FRIDAY, November 23, 2018, As we celebrate the season of giving and family reunion, make room in your heart for the poor, the homeless, and many who are suffering around the world. Let us especially pray for and give assistance to those who so recently lost their homes and loved ones in the California wildfires. Pray for Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent eight years on death row in Pakistan. Her life is still in grave danger, and she and her family need to find asylum in one of the Western nations.

Our Savior clothed himself in the humblest circumstances: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Out of the richness of His grace, strengthen your local community of faith and reach out to those in need right around you. Consider a gift in this season of giving to one of the many Christian charities who serve the needy all year long.

Matthew 25:40, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" 

Proverbs 19:17, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

Psalm 82:3-4, “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”

Acts 11:27-30, “Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”