Attend to the poor
When there is a dispute concerning your poor, don’t tamper with the justice due them. ~ Exodus 23:6 (MSG)
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. ~ Luke 16:19-20 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
This year make sure that you notice the poor and see to it that they are treated well.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the way that you treat us all fairly. You love the poor as much as the rich. I'm not nearly so loving. I'm inclined to pay attention to only the people who might in some way benefit me. Since the poor are so important to you, I am asking that you would give me eyes to see those in need, a heart to treat them well, and the wisdom to realize the best way to do so. This year I am going to follow Jesus in attending to the needs of the poor. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
