One of my favorite books is Fields of the Fatherless by C. Thomas Davis. It is a quick read and yet has been pivotal in setting the course for my life. The scriptures in this little book gave me the courage to abandon the familiarity and comforts of our lives in the States to make our two moves to Africa. God’s call to speak up and care for the fatherless, the widow and the stranger continue to set the course for my life. As I reread this book today in my early morning time, I thought I would share some of the scriptures with you. I hope you are encouraged as you see more of God’s heart for this special group of people :the fatherless (orphans) and widows. I ask you to pray. Ask God’s Spirit to lead you to care for what matters most to Him.
Look closely at how God actually defines Himself as providing for the most vulnerable in Psalm 68:5-6. God promises to provide:
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families he leads forth the prisoners with singing.” Psalm 68: 5-6
He promises to ensure justice:
“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger (alien), giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:17-18
He promises to bless us when we care:
“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within our gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” Deuteronomy 14:28
In closing, I also must share the verse that Go Near ministry is named from: James 1:27.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
To look after those in distress… we must go near. We must prayerfully ask God to lead us to the vulnerable, the orphan and the widow, the oppressed. Get ready. He will lead you. He will provide for you to provide for others. He promises to give you spiritual blessings and joy!!
Melody
#gonearwithus
