DCLM Daily Manna 26 January 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Relief For The Oppressed
TOPIC: Relief For The Oppressed (DCLM Daily Manna 26 January 2024)
KEY VERSE: “And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:10).
TEXT: Leviticus 19:9,10 (KJV)
9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
MESSAGE:
George Mueller (1805-1898), in his time, cared for over ten thousand orphans at a cost that exceeded eight million dollars. He not only provided succour for the homeless and fatherless, but he also diligently brought relief to the oppressed. Yet in all this, Mueller never once asked for anything from anyone but God.
Our text is a law given by God to the people of Israel for the protection of the poor. It is a reminder that God owned the land and that the people were only caretakers. This body of law portrays God’s generosity to His people. They were commanded not to wholly reap the corners of their field or gather the gleanings of their harvest. They should not glean their vineyard or gather every grape, but they should deliberately leave some in the field, for the poor and strangers. This is a law they must observe throughout their generations.
The sight of poor people gleaning in their fields would have served as a reminder to them that they were once poor slaves in the land of Egypt before they were delivered by God. It is a fact that both the gleaners and the owners of the field were both bondmen and women before they were freed by God. Either free or oppressed, everyone is a receiver of God’s benevolence and goodness. The oppressed or the poor were the objects of His special protection as long as they lived in holiness and reposed their faith in Him.
The poor will not cease completely in the society, church or nation. Just as the Israelites were commanded by God to leave a portion of corn in their cornfields for the poor to reap, so must we as a church or family always provide for the poor in our midst. Make budgetary provisions to cater to the poor.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A selfish Christian is a contradiction in terms.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
ACTS 26-28
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
