The Prison, the Poor, and the Presence

Daily Reading:  Luke 7

The poor have good news preached to them. (Luke 7.22)

Devotional Thought: John the Baptist had been put in prison for preaching the truth and offending the politically powerful.  While in prison, John grew restless and discouraged and sent messengers to ask Jesus if he really was the Messiah.  Prison is a very depressing place, and one can hardly fault John for having doubts come into his mind and heart: “Jesus, if you are who you say you are – and who I believe you are – then why am I wasting away in this prison? I’ve got sermons to preach and souls to save!” 

Jesus told the messengers to report to John what he was doing – healing of the sick, raising of the dead, freeing of those under control of demons.  And Jesus concludes the verification that he is the Messiah with the interesting claim: "The poor have good news preached to them."

The good news is preached to the poor.  That is a sign that the Messiah is present among us.  God’s heart has always been moved by the plight of the poor.  In the poor, the love of God is poured out without limit, but have we so sanitized the gospel that we have made it out of reach for the poor?

At Christmas we may give money to help the poor; we may do toy drives to help them “have Christmas;” we may even inconvenience ourselves and “ring the bells” to collect for the poor.  But don’t let them show up at our churches!  The very people we say we want to help are the very ones we don’t want to be around.  But, when the good news is preached to the poor, Jesus is present!

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I turn a blind eye to those in need around me.  Help me to love and care for them as you do.  Instead of blaming them, help me to bless them.  Instead of keeping them at arm's length, help me to enfold them with the embrace of God.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 136.1-9

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;

5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;

7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;

8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;

9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;