Together in Christ: 'Faithful to Love as Our Father Loves' — Deuteronomy 10:17-19

Few topics engender more hair-trigger arguments today than talking about offering justice for all people, especially for widows, orphans, foreigners in the land, and the poor. Despite the repeated emphasis in the Old Testament, ^[1] many who claim to be followers of Jesus forget the importance of loving people in these groups. Jesus' example, ministry, and teaching reinforced God's demand for His people to love and care for widows, orphans, foreigners among us, and the poor. Concern for these people wasn't just an Old Testament issue. James, the half-brother of Jesus, emphasized the importance of caring for these vulnerable people. ^[2] We see that concern in the early church as it cared for these groups. ^[3]

When we go back and read the accounts of Jesus' early life, ^[4] we see that Jesus experienced these kinds of issues firsthand as part of his childhood. He was born to an unmarried mother. His family was driven from their home by a tyrannical and genocidal king. They were foreigners in the land of Egypt as His adoptive dad and vulnerable mom sought to protect Jesus' life. When Mary spoke about the miracle child God placed in her womb, she praised God's faithfulness to the poor, powerless, and vulnerable. ^[5]

The truth is very straightforward for all who believe in Christ and seek to demonstrate the heart of God. We were once lost in sin, separated from God, and without hope. ^[6] Yet God saved us by His mercy, included us in His family because of His grace, and made us His children through His love. ^[7] Our role is to share that grace with others and include them in our spiritual family. ^[8] The vulnerable, widows, orphans, foreigners, and needy people among us who are our neighbors. They desperately need the love God wants us to share with them. ^[9] To do less is to forget the mercy, grace, and love that God has lavished on us!