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In The Garden Daily Devotional
Series: A Walk Through Matthew
"O Happy Day"
Pastor Wayne Clabaugh
SCRIPTURE TEXT: "Blessed are the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3 KJV
Having been in the Ministry for a great deal of
our married lives (36 years), Osella and I have
found that "the poor" and "the needy" are two
different things. The poor are not always poor
because of situations beyond their control. They
are many times without money and "needy" to a
certain degree... because they will not work!
The Bible is very clear on that.
"For even when we were with you, this we
commanded you, that if any would not work, neither
should he eat." 2 Thes. 3:10 (KJV)
However, being "the extended arm of the Lord"
- the church has often found that "dead-beats" have
children; thereby reaching out in the Name of Jesus, we
endeavor to help all we can. Hunger is an awful thing
and it appears on the faces of our friends and enemies.
Kind of gives that passage , "Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies:" Ps 23:5
a whole new meaning doesn't it?
In the current times we're living, we have found that
2009 and the beginning of 2010 has proven to be
strenuous on hundreds of thousands of families as their
places of employment have had to "cut-back" and in many
cases even close their doors due to the debacle on Wall
Street. This has caused a great consternation amongst
peoples of every nation, not just here in America.
However, there are those within your very own city I’m
sure, who had potatoes to eat tonight, and potato
peelings and onions to eat last night. If they are lucky
enough to have a home, they walk around throughout the
winters bundled up in winter coats, because their
Landlords and owners of their tenement housing have not
weatherized the windows and doorways to keep out the
cool night air. Many of them are elderly, alone, and
have no one should they become sick and unable to care
for themselves. They are the silent voices that no one
hears save God alone. You will never see them in a
soup-line or at a food bank. They often feel that surely
there is someone less-fortunate than they are.
Are they unhappy? Not really. They have just accepted
that this is their "lot" in life. Yet, when you show up
on their door-step with a bag of groceries and tell them
about the Love of Jesus, there is a glow that fills
their countenance that begs description. They are
receptive to everything you tell them about Him and are
eager to have you pray with them and for them. In that
electric moment ... "theirs...”, "yours…", is the
kingdom of heaven."
If you think that YOU get a blessing out of touching
someone's life like that - can you imagine our Heavenly
Father, as He looks down on that eternal moment when He
has so moved one like yourself to not only share the
temporal blessings of food, but enjoin that
less-fortunate one in the bounty of heaven's greatest
treasure.... “fellowship” in the Name of Jesus?
It's one of His greatest creations. O Happy Day!
Father: Make me a blessing to someone today. In
Jesus' Name, Amen.
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