ESOCS Devotional 19 January 2023
TEXT: LUKE 7: 11-23
MEMORY VERSE: “And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her. And He said to her, ‘Do not weep’” Luke 7:13 IKJV
Luke was very careful, and down to earth in his reports of the activities of Jesus. He particularly showed interest in the works of the Master that revealed His social concern for the less privileged in the society of His day. On this very occasion, a funeral procession was in progress towards the outside gate of the city of Nain, when Jesus arrived. The dead man was an only son of a poor widow. This woman had lost all hope in life: her only son had left her, and being her only child, meaning all her earthly support was gone. But Jesus had pity on her, and stopped the procession, in order to restore hope to the hopeless widow.
Like in many present-day societies, the society of ancient Israel treated women as underdogs. But Jesus took His time to relate with women and to show special concern to the disregarded women of the time. The likes of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:4; Luke 8:2; Luke 7:12-13). In fact, Luke introduced over thirteen cases of underprivileged- women that Jesus socially and spiritually responded to their predicaments. In our text particularly, we see Jesus’ special heart for the poor and downcast of society.
Jesus proved truly that He was the Messiah of all mankind prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1). His numerous ministries to all classes of people, including the underdog is incomparable. His love and compassion extended to all other despised people such as tax collectors, the Samaritans, the sick, and the poor in general. His miraculous healings extended mostly to the helpless were so many that He had this to say to the disciples of John the Baptist: “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: ‘the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised.” The Good News was also freely preached to the poor (Luke 7:22).
Such concern for the outcasts of society and for the poor and the unloved people of today, ought to characterize our lives as ministers and preachers of the word of salvation. Let’s take heed to ourselves.
- How do you relate to the poor and downtrodden in your environment, as a Christian?
- Lord Jesus, give me the grace to show concern to the less privileged.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 47:1-9; Amos 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 19 January 2023
