Its the Christmas season and I've been thinking about the Christmas story, and specifically about all those angels appearing to some shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. What an awesome experience that must have been! Out of all the people on earth, why did God choose to tell some poor shepherds? They smelled like sheep, they were unshaven, dirty, and wearing their work clothes, yet these shepherds of Judea were the only guests invited by angels to come and worship the newborn savior of the world. One of the lessons I learn from this story is that God loves poor people.
The story I'm referring to is in the gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 8 to 18.
I have a keen interest in all things medieval, including medieval art. This painting titled Adoration of the Shepherds, is by the Italian painter Antonio da Correggio, dated 1530.
Yes, the God of the Bible loves poor people. He loves them so much, He sent His Son Jesus, to die for them. The word gospel means good news! It is good news to know that God loves poor people. It is also good news to know that God loves rich people, and people anywhere in between those two extremes. God also loves sick people and He loves sinners. The good news to sick people, poor people, sinners, etc. that He loves them enough that they do not have to remain a sinner, a sick person, or a poor person. The good news is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 He continues to heal, forgives sins, and supply all our needs in abundance! 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 3:8, Acts 10:38, Acts 3:19, John 3:16, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10, John 10:10, Luke 6:38, Matthew 6:25-33, 2 Corinthians 8:7-9, Luke 4:18-19! So the truth and good news is that God wants to make us whole in all areas of our life! Yes and Amen! Thankyou Jesus!
ReplyDeleteTrust and Obey
ReplyDeleteYou are implying that to be poor or sick is the same as being a sinner. And that it is wrong (or it's a sin) to be poor or sick. Or that it is my fault and that I am to blame for being sick and poor.
In many places throughout the scriptures God says it is important to help the poor. Nowhere does God say it is wrong for someone to be poor, yet you seem to be upset by the fact that there are poor people.
I believe in the bible verses that you quoted, but the reality is that God is not supplying all of my needs in abundance. And this is true for a great many Christians all over the world. You seem unwilling to accept this fact of life. A person cannot force God to make them rich by positive thinking and quoting bible verses.
I don't know why all of these unfortunate things have happened to me. I can't explain it and it doesn't make sense. But I trust God that through it all, he still loves me, and he understands, and I trust Him to help me.