“We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart” (Hebrews 13:16)

In the preceding verse (Hebrews 13:15), the Holy Spirit tells us about offering sacrifices of praise. Now, He continues by saying, we should offer sacrifices of doing good and sharing with others. Every sacrifice surely costs something. It takes something from us. This cost can make us to forget (meaning to neglect) to do good or to share with others, but herein lies the certainty: such sacrifices please God!

In Galatians 2:10, after the Apostles approved of Paul’s call to the ministry, they told him to “keep on helping the poor.” Paul’s response to them was plain, saying: “the very thing I was eager to do.” Paul showed eagerness to do, knowing how much it pleased the Father. These are acts of mercy, and we are products of God’s own mercies. Hence, Galatians 6:2-3 says expressly: “Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” The realisation that God carries our burdens drives in us the desire to share those of others too, according to His grace working in us.

Jesus said: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:34-36). To those who do these things, The King will say: “Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!”

#goodmorning 🌷

BeEncouraged❤️ Freely received. Freely shared