Saturday, August 20, 2005

VERSE FOR THE DAY - JEREMIAH 22:16

God is speaking of King Josiah: "He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" (Jeremiah 22:16)

Wow.

"Is that not what it means to know me?"

What does it mean to "Know" God? This verse suggests that it means to care for the poor and the needy.

Like in 1 John 3:16-19 where the scriptures tell us: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."

I woke up this morning after a dream where I was preaching a sermon from Matthew 25. It was titled "Prepare to Live; Prepare to Die" and it was all about how, at the Judgement Seat, we all will stand before Jesus and be judged based on one thing- How have we treated the poor around us?

Sobering stuff.

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