“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”
– Psalm 68:5-6
God’s steadfast love, faithfulness, care, and concern for the most vulnerable shines throughout the Bible from beginning to end. God is the perfect, holy Father to those without an earthly father in their lives. He champions vulnerable widows. He gives the lonely fellowship with Himself and leads those imprisoned, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually to freedom. How?
One critical way is through the actions of His people! In every generation, God appoints His people, the followers of Jesus, to share and act on His love, to demonstrate His concern in practical ways, and to minister to deep physical and spiritual needs. Throughout history, God’s people have stepped up to the task, founding hospitals and orphanages, providing desperately needed relief and aid, battling for the abolition of slavery, the education and uplift of the poor, and the rights of the disenfranchised.
Each generation of Christian must actively cultivate God’s passion for those hurting and left behind by the world in their own hearts. We must care for those most easily taken advantage of and having the fewest protections. What practical things can you, or are you, doing as a child of God to provide God’s care and reveal His love for those in need?