Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 8
Tuesday


GOD PROVIDES,
BUT HOW?

READ:
Deuteronomy
24:19-22
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He who tills his land
will be satisfied with
bread.
__Proverbs12:11
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Outside my office window, the squirrels are in a race against winter to bury their acorns in a safe, accessible place. Their commotion amuses me. An entire herd of deer can go through our back yard and not make a sound, but one squirrel sounds like an invasion.

The two creatures are different in another way as well. Deer do not prepare for winter. When the snow comes they eat whatever they can find along the way (including ornamental shrubs in our yard.). But squirrels would starve if they followed that example. They would be unable to find suitable food.

The deer and the squirrel represent ways that God cares for us. He enables us to work and save for the future, and He meets our need when resources are scarce. As the wisdom literature teaches, God gives us seasons of plenty so that we can prepare for seasons of need (Prov. 12:11). And as Psalm 23 says, the Lord leads us through perilous places to pleasant pastures.

Another way that God provides is by instructing those with plenty to share with those in need (Deut. 24:19). So when it comes to provision, the message of the Bible is this: Work while we can, save what we can, share what we can, and trust God to meet our needs. __Julie Ackerman Link

```````````````````Thank You, Lord, for the promise that You will``````````````````
````````````````````meet our needs. Help us not to fear or doubt.`````````````````
`````````````````````We're grateful that You're watching over us```````````````````
`````````````````````and that our cries for help reach Your ear.````````````````````
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Our needs will never exhaust God's supply.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Deuteronomy 24:19-22*************************

19 When you reap your
harvest in your field, and
forget a sheaf in the field,
you shall not go back to get
it; it shall be for the
stranger, the fatherless, and
the widow, that the LORD
your God may bless you in
all the work of your hands.

20 When you beat your olive
trees, you shall not go over
the boughs again; it shall
be for the stranger, the
fatherless, and the widow.

21 When you gather the
grapes of your vineyard,
you shall not glean it
afterward; it shall be for the
stranger, the fatherless, and
the widow. 22 And you shall
remember that you were a
slave in the land of Egypt;
therefore I command you to
do this thing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

When asked which commandment was the greatest, Jesus replied,
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind" (Matt.22:37). But that wasn't all He
had to say. He immediately followed by saying, "And the second is
like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (v.39). It's often
difficult to know exactly what it means to love our neighbor. Today's
passage outlines in one practical way what loving a neighbor meant
to an ancient Israelite. Here Israel was commanded to take care of
the physical needs of those less fortunate (Deut. 24:19-21). Jesus
reiterated this principle in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke
10:25-37).