June 12, 1999, Saturday

Who taught society that it was the right thing to do to

share with the unfortunate? Is it difficult to remember

the times that someone was able to share with you? Is

it difficult to change the mind of someone who is set

to believe their own ways?

Paul quoted the circumstances of the Israelites when they

were being led in the wilderness by God. They were poor

and were forced to rely on God for daily provisions; a

principle that Believers understand about their status

before God; we come to Him as a beggar, poor and in need.

They were forced to rely on each other and share daily-

"He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who

gathered little had no lack" (2Cor 8:15)- Moses taught

that those who were afflicted by poverty should receive

comfort from others in the camp- "you shall open your

hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient or his

need, whatever he needs" (Deut 15:8). Every Believer was

before his salvation poor and without Christ, but we may

bless God now that He saw our need and we are now blessed

to bless others in their need!

Luke tells us that Paul remembered joyfully what the group

in Melita did for him when he was shipwrecked there from a

storm. Interesting is the fact that God changed their minds

after Paul shared the Gospel with them. They were gracious-

"They gave us many gifts, and when we sailed, they put on

board what we needed for the voyage" (Acts 28:10). The Lord

sees the need of His sons in every affliction and need. In

this case giving friends to help Paul and boost his spirits

from gracious expressions of a foreign people!

Paul wrote to the Corinthians expressing the need for each

one of God's children to know that he is loved. That meant

a lot to Paul; more than the power of faith and preaching-

"I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all

knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the

faith needed to move mountains but if I have no love, I am

nothing" (1Cor 13:2). To know that the God Who sees our

needs expects us to show love from the many ways God has

expressed His love to us, can change hearts and minds.

Let us remember who is the God that sees all things.

God's Name is Jehová El Roi. He is the God that sees

the NEEDS of His people, that is our moral conscience

and strength daily, and is our strong support because

our hearts are truly His. Lift your hands to Him and

Praise Him today for the fact that He is the God that

that sees everything that we need!