Dave's Diary

This is the 2nd week of our five-week series of devotions on different ways we can minister God’s love to friends, colleagues, acquaintances, family, or even strangers. The five weeks are loosely based on Gary Chapman’s “Five Love Languages”. Last week was about how we use our words to minister God’s love, and this week’s language is Acts of Service. It recognises that meeting the needs of others in practical ways is a very Christlike form of love-in-action.

Daily Reading: Proverbs 19:17

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.”

What a profound idea. It seems to be based on the understanding that because God has promised to provide for our human needs, when we extend practical kindness to someone who is in need because of material poverty, we are actually acting on God’s behalf, as God’s agents. Verse17 assures us that God will reward those who act on His behalf in this way. Yet, for the one who loves God, the honour of acting as an agent of God’s provision might even be enough reward in and of itself. To be a channel of God’s provision, and an instrument of God’s practical love to others, is a beautiful privilege!

Let’s consider how we might be agents of God’s loving provision for others who are in need today, and then let’s step out in faith and just do exactly that – to the glory of God!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the resources I possess. They all come from Your gracious hand. Please show me to whom you desire me to pass on any of those resources today, and use me as an instrument of Your practical, loving provision. Amen.