WEEK 3
DAY 18- MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARGINALIZED & IMPOVERISHED
Scripture- Exodus 22:22, 23:6; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 10:18; Luke 10:25-37
Read Luke 10:25–37. Do you want to feel good, or do you want to be an answer to prayer?
We’ve heard the Good Samaritan parable many times. It was in response to a ruler who felt good because he had the religious answers about how to obtain eternal life—love God and love your neigh- bor—but was the ruler willing to really answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
There are many in our communities, in our world—and, yes, right next to us—who are hurting, traf- ficked, forgotten, starving, abused, and living in poverty for whom Jesus is the answer. Take a moment today and pray for them specifically. Pray that they will find healing, stability, purpose, food, comfort, shelter, sustenance, and employment. Maybe even go a step further and become the answer to the prayer.
Theologian Miroslav Volf states, “There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve.” Part of a good prayer life is aligning our thoughts and desires with the heart of God. While you and I may not have a Jericho-road experience as in the parable, we can begin to see others as God does as we intercede spiritually, materially, and physically on their behalf.
REFLECTION PRAYER
The chorus in Brandon Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes” will serve as the reflection prayer today:
“All those people going somewhere, why have I never cared? Give me Your eyes for just one second.
Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing; give Your love for humanity.
Give me Your arms for the brokenhearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see.”
By Les McMahan