“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
“As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.”
“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.” Deuteronomy 15:7-11,14b-15; 16:17
“You received without paying; give without pay.” Matthew 10:8
Most of the laws given through Moses dictated action, but all action begins with the seed of thought. Out of the overflow of the heart we speak and behave, so tending the thought life is vital to fruitful living. Faced regularly with challenges and varying situations, an upright mind procures righteous actions and reactions. It is vital to know who am I before God, who is He, and how would He have me see others?
If I coddle flesh desires and center life around me, I’ll get spiritually off kilter and critical of others. If I boast and hoard my rights, I’ll mistreat others. But if I remember the Cross and its gospel of grace and deliverance, I will perceive people and circumstances in its holy light: we are all captives until rescued by Jesus. I am no king of my domain but a ransomed slave. I’m no master of my universe but a needy recipient of God’s provision. I enjoy God’s generosity because He has graciously, lavishly set His affection on me, and so I must be His arms and hands to those around me.
In what places of life do we think wrongly, inverting truth for convenience, perverting justice for greed? Where have we allowed ego-stoked preferences to dictate unkind treatment or dismissal of others, or selfish ends to justify thoughtless or destructive means? What false or puffed up perception is holding us captive in a calloused heart? (Deuteronomy 16:19-20; Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:3-4)
How would we see the disadvantaged around us differently if we remembered our depravity before God, daily reciting Romans 3:23? What compassion, patience, generosity, and grace might we exhibit?
My Deliverer, let me never forget I was a slave and You set me free to express gratitude and love for You by loving others.
As the rain and snow 