Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing.

And God uses us, the church, His people, to accomplish this.

Deuteronomy 10:8,9

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.

And you are to love those who are strangers, for you yourselves were strangers.

So, the church is the hope of the world.

If we actually believed that, it would change the way we live.

We would live differently and we would live better.

We would be happier because we would be doing what God built us for.

Isaiah 58 says that if we spend ourselves on behalf of the oppressed, the poor, the hungry and the displaced, then we will hear from God and be heard by Him.

So, not only is the church the hope of the world, but the world is the hope of the church!

(with thanks to Joe Dueck for the above)

from Psalm 119:113-120

My choice is clear - I love Your law.

Your word is my only source of hope.

I intend to obey the commands of my God.

Do not let my hope be crushed.

I will meditate on Your principles continually.