Advent Devotion: Orphans and Widows


"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  –James 1:27 NIV

Do you know any orphans?  Have any family members, friends, or colleagues who are widows?  How are you showing them that you care?  Are you involved in their lives in a meaningful way? 

Christmas can be a difficult time for those who are alone.  Sometime around 2004, my cousins became temporary orphans.  Although they were adopted into our immediate family, they had suffered great loss. Christmas and other holidays were difficult times.  They were more likely to get in trouble at school and at home around the holidays.  It is hard to be a good kid when you are experiencing such deep pain. 

During the holidays it is important for us to be aware of the needs and losses of those around us.  A coworker may be grumpier than usual because of the loss of a spouse or tensions may arise amidst family members because of the absence of a parent.   The me-focused world of our consumer-driven Christmas has the potential to pollute our vision so that we are less compassionate towards those around us who require extra compassion. 

This Christmas turn on your personal wind-shield wipers—push back the to-do list and mindless ads—and see the world again through the vision of pure religion—a religion that cares for widows and orphans in their distress and remains unpolluted by the world.

Lord, help me to see past people’s negative behavior to the heart that is melting in loss.  Make me aware of the needs of others and show me how to respond with care.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palm Sunday School Lesson for Teenagers

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20 Topic: When Jesus ate with his Disciples Background: This lesson would be taught during a Sunday morning breakfast club for teenagers. Once a month the youth meet to cook breakfast and then we try to relate the lesson to food. Last time the Middle School breakfast club met a middle school student led his peers in a devotional that went through the various stories of Jesus sharing food with his disciples. This Sunday we are going to focus on one of those stories and how it relates to Easter. Opening: 1. Ask, “Have you ever helped plan a party?” a. Ask the students to share about the various things they did to prepare (send invites, decorate, blow up balloons, set the table, plan games, order food). 2. Say, “For some families, Easter is a time of celebration, a party of sorts.” a. Ask, “What does your family do to celebrate Easter?” (family gets together, we eat dinner together, Easter egg hunt, attend church se
Read more

They touched Jesus, but then, how did they pray?

I'm sitting in my room praying and thinking, "After the resurrection did the disciples pray to Jesus?" Just imagine this with me for a moment. You have spent the past 2 - 3 years of your life following this intriguing man around, your feet are calloused, your memory is overflowing with moments around the campfire or dinner table, and you've been challenged to completely shift your Jewish worldview. And then he is gone. Just as quick as he came, just as brief as the moment he walked the shoreline past your fishing boat and called out to you, he is gone. And you are left knowing you've met an incredible man who was more than a man -- a man who was somehow divine. Now there is no one around you analyzing deep fulfilled Christological theological concepts, but there are plenty of Greek voices and new philosophical ways of contemplating life's happenings, there are Jewish commentaries, and there are the conversations that have happened along the roadside. An
Read more

Question: Multi-generational ministry

What do you think is good about churches that focus on reaching a specific age group? What do you think some of the disadvantages are? Would you rather be part of a multi-generational interactive community or a community of peers? (Assuming both are in the context of Christian fellowship.)
Read more