 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||
|
by Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries © Copyright Reserved March 8th 2009
Slum of Nights
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (New International Version) 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. I wanted to write a devotional message about the movie, Slum Dog Millionaire; instead, I have chosen to write a devotional entitled, “Slum of Nights”. Immediately you would think this is not a good place to be. For God's preparation, it is a great place to be. It is a place that separates you from your fears. I became a constant drifter after leaving home; shelter care was no longer a concern. In the streets however, you do not always get to say yes or no to the partitions in life! Evil will always try to destroy your hope for a better place in life and a chance for true happiness. The slum of nights is a place where the light of God seems far away. I recall the beginning of my childhood drama. I had hit the streets running at 13 years of age. I quickly lost my fear of the unknown and made friends with the constant rain of the eerie nights. I felt safe in the dark edges of the city, no one focused on who, what or why I was on the streets in the late nights. In my life time I discovered that not fitting in would be a learning requirement of my missionary life today. Can you imagine that not fitting in with the world help me fit in with God. It seems a little odd, but the circumstances made me dependant on God. It was this desert place that prepared my heart for the needs of the poor. When you don't have anyone, the Lord will give you all of the right people that you need. I found a lot of peace and support with the older women in the townships who always talked about God. I felt safe with the white haired grandmothers that always had some extra food to share. The slum of night was not always about a homeless condition or an unhealthy situation, it was about the slum of poverty in the home of the poor, it was about the slum of suffering in the patched window house without heat. It was about the broken child that wanted to be loved. The bible reminds us that the poor will alway be with us. Does this mean that we can be selective or limit how much we give? We must keep our hand open and trust God to fill them again/ No one wants to be homeless, poor or without family. No one plans to become old or sick. The Christian community are the spritual caretakers of God. As the economy becomes worse and more people are set a drift in our communities, let us open our hands and help someone.
Devotional Song: Come Slum of Nights by Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries © Copyright Reserved March 8th 2009
It was the slum of Night when all the demons were running scared, Not a creature in sight, to pick a fight, The warrior's sword was shinning in the light, It was time for God's angels to descend from flight,
Come, slum of night rest in God's nest, Come slum of night hold you head up among the dead, Come slum of night into the light; come ready to take your flight
The sea is beginning to rumble as the devils caves starts to crumble, Listen to the winds as the angels descend, it is time to put an end to all our sins, Heaven is dancing as the soldier sing, bring on the praises to the King of Kings.
Come, slum of night rest in God's nest, Come slum of night hold you head up among the dead, Come slum of night into the light; come ready to take your flight
Prayer Holy Father in Heaven, we love you, we thank you for the compassion that lives in our hearts. Thank for the spiritual poverty that keeps us searching for you. Bless our churches with the provision to honor you oh God! (Those who help the poor, honor God Proverb 1:31) In Jesus Name Amen Please pass this devotional message to a friend or a stranger that needs to know how bless they are.
email your comments: |
||||
| n4 |