Precious Moments That Count For EternitySample

Family Matters In Biblical times, the day a woman became a widow, she was left bereft of the breadwinner of her home, and consequently, lost her respect and place in her community. Even today, widows and orphans are treated as hapless victims, ignored by society at large. They may be treated shabbily by their own relatives too, but God shows compassion to them. Though a husband and father are irreplaceable, God promises to be a husband to the widow (Isaiah 54:4,5) and a father to the fatherless. Jesus had compassion on the widow of Nain and raised her dead son to life (Luke 7:11-17). He also demonstrated the Father’s justice on behalf of the widow who repeatedly pleaded with the unjust judge to avenge her cause (Luke 18:1-8). Widows and orphans have a special place in God’s heart and He will protect and defend them. In the Old Testament, God gave instructions on how to treat widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22). In the New Testament, James writes that true religion before God is to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, which means we ought not to neglect meeting their needs. God admonishes us not to oppress the fatherless and the widow (Zechariah 7:10). In fact, He commands us to defend them (Psalm 82:3). While we strive to obey God in serving the widow and the orphan, let us not do it out of a sense of duty, but rather consider it our joy and privilege to partner with God in this endeavor. After all, we were once orphans spiritually, but our loving Father chose to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. Prayer Father, I thank You that You adopted me into Your family. Help me care for widows and the fatherless the way You want me to. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.