WEEK 5 - MARGINALIZED PEOPLE
The prayer spotlight falls this week on people who are often overlooked or even mistreated. Pray that the Lord will make us His vessels of love, hope, and justice. Pray for those among our Alliance family who do the important work of chaplaincy—bringing the message of Jesus to people in their most challenging times, when they need to hear that message the most and may well be most responsive to it.
DAY THIRTY // IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES BY SHELLY CROUCH
When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticuss 19:33-34
Our world is home to 7.8 billion people. Most reside in the land of their birth, but 3.5 percent, or 272 million, are migrants. Some leave their communities by choice; many more are forced to flee their homelands, cultures, and families with little or no say about their future destination. Myriad reasons motivate migrants to relocate, but there is one constant experienced by every immigrant—vulnerability. Vulnerabilities that are relieved only by the compassion and hospitality of the people who do not have to move, whose lives are blessed with stability.
Scripture teaches that God sees those who feel invisible, forgotten, and vulnerable (Gen. 16:13). We are told, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing” (Deut. 10:18). In Scripture we see God’s plan for those living in the land to receive people who are new: “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:33–34).
God wants us to have compassion on those who are vulnerable, who rely on the kindness of others to endure their struggles. Compassion involves intention and action. Intention is simply opening your heart to others; action is what you do about it. Compassion begins with empathy— seeing the story of another fellow human being from their perspective.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. God, open my eyes to immigrants in my community who need my compassion.
2. Lord, provide wisdom, discernment, and provision to those who work with immigrants.
3. Jesus, reveal your compassion to immigrants through Your people so they will come to know Your unconditional love and saving grace.