call on him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6
What is our attitude about the poor? People who need to be fixed? Ignored? Employed? Pitied? Converted? Or might it be people to be loved, respected, appreciated, and valued? I admit that my attitudes about the poor at times bounce around among all of the above. But the point of today's devotion is that the attitude we bring matters. The teachings and actions of Jesus are very clear that he is among the poor and the outcasts. He is found there. He is near there. He is not just in our services of worship or Bible study classes. If that's the case, then the first thing to do when among the poor is not to "fix their problem." Rather, it is to listen, to understand, and to learn about their lives and their needs. It's called "accompaniment," "seeking the presence of God in the lives and giftedness of our neighbors, especially those whose lives are a continual battle with poverty." (Rev. Stephen Bouman) Does this mean we somehow glorify poverty, as if it's somehow a good thing? Never! But it does mean we enter into situations with sensitivity, respect, and the belief that God is already present. And if that's the case, it just might be that we are the ones who end up changed through the witness of those we serve.
Your elaboration of this devotion is very helpful, Pastor Jeff! While I may be aware of world hunger, these very personal and heartbreaking stories of poverty and dangerous living circumstances help to draw us closer to the heart of Jesus and to how he is asking us to respond.
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