LISTEN, O EARTH! (Micah 1:2)
Suggested Reading: Micah 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here you can see a row of homes in the region of ancient Pergamos. All seven churches of Revelation (Pergamos is one) are in modern day Turkey. The book of Micah, like the Revelation, is God's attempt to communicate with people where they take shelter, eat, sleep, and go about their daily lives.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Micah 2:1
Woe to those who devise iniquity,
And work out evil on their beds!
At morning light they practice it,
Because it is in the power of their hand.
Micah reveals the compassion of God for people who suffer social injustice at the hands of a powerful corrupt elite. Micah strongly condemns rulers, false prophets, and ungodly priests who exploit the poor for their own gain. He declares that both the northern kingdom, Samaria, and the southern kingdom, Jerusalem, will be overthrown because of their iniquity, evil, covetousness and oppression of those who are disadvantaged.
When Christ returns to earth to rule as Messiah, His statement to all the nations of the earth will be, “I was hungry and you gave Me food” (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus makes it clear that care for needy people will be His #1 priority when He sets up His earthly Kingdom. He will judge all nations by His standards of justice for all. In the meantime, as our key verse says, evil “is in the power of their hand.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You have given me a free will. Because of the example of Jesus, and Your grace You freely give me, I pray that I will decide to do good and not evil all the days of my life. I ask this in the Name of the One who always cares for others, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At the tail end of the great depression of the 1930s, when so much poverty was evident, I can remember men that society called “tramps” (homeless people) knocking on our door asking for food and shelter. Mother would prepare some food, but as my father was away, they would usually sit on the porch. I would sit and watch. I couldn’t think of anything to say, but I knew mother had done something important. I also knew that she was keeping an eye on me for my safety. When I entered high school in the late 1940s, I learned that my all-time favourite teacher had been one of those on the road in the 30s. This gave me a new perspective on helping others.
As a young Pastor in the late 50s and 60s, I encouraged the congregations to support the Salvation Army, and I think it was in 1965 that World Vision came to our city with a Korean orphan choir. Our people got involved as child care sponsors. Our television ministry got involved directly as a result of my son, David Reynold (our photographer for this blog), praying every evening at family devotions for about a month. He was just a little guy, but somehow he encountered human need. He would pray, in an mournful voice, “O God, please help daddy to help those poor children in India.” God answered his prayer and within another month we had raised, through the TV ministry, monthly childcare support for about 1,000 children, and we turned the names and address over to World Vision Canada for the cause, which was the ministry of Mark and Huldah Buntain in Calcutta, India. Crossroads has consistently encouraged support of ministries of compassion and has for decades now been directly involved (click here for Crossroads’ current missions projects).
Yours for being moved with the compassion of Christ toward those in need,
David
P.S. I was in bed when Mark Buntain called me from India and asked me to help him help children. My other son, Ron and his wife Ann are in Regina, Saskatchewan, this weekend speaking at a conference, and it occurs to me that the people of Saskatchewan were the first to respond to the challenge of helping the children of India as I presented the need for the first time on the local CTV station.
As there are a myriad of ways where we can serve You Lord, open our minds and hearts to follow where You lead us. Grant us empathy and strength as we interact and share of our time and resources, thankful You have enabled us to do so for Your Glory. Amen.
Amen!
Amen ! Yes Lord put on our hearts your ways to do the very best we can to help your people in need. God bless all of you today.
God’s continued blessings to you and your family, David Mainse. You are a shining bright light in our world. I envision a map of the world and a white light on every place/person you and your family/ministry have helped, influenced, and ultimately fed Christ. The world is a better place because of you and yours, fine sir! We are humbled and blessed by the Crossroads Ministry and 100Words.ca blog.
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25
When we walk in the glory of the Lord, and give to those in need, He shall walk through us into the lives of others. God bless ye merry saints on this beautiful spring day.
Anen Beverlee such truth.
It is good to pray and help those in need in missions you if you
can not go away you can just go out out side your back door
I remember a story similar in my families history that they did
fed indian children outside the same way as you did David
but at another time.
Lianne Hogg
I was a World Vision correspondence secretary when you visited us on Consumers Rd in North York. You walked to the back area of the office to see Cathy re: child sponsorship. You had the biggest smile on your face! That was the first time I had ever seen you in person! Two of my children eventually worked there. One is still there and the other was overseas for WV and is now raising her 4 children – one of whom she adopted while in the 3rd world. She was away for 10 yrs & God was true to His promise – to give her a home & children in this life for leaving brothers, parents, & home to minister overseas.
God bless you DM et al. So nice that Ron and Anne can visit us westerners.
There are so many ways we can help the poor in spirit and body without leaving our towns and cities and without spending a dime. How I pray we open our hearts and minds to those less blessed than we, in Jesus name.
Love the pic of the row housing. I believe Dr. Oz and his parents came from Turkey:-)
So sad to hear of Jim Flaherty’s passing. May the good Lord give him eternal peace and may his family and friends know and serve our heavenly Father.
Blessings on all fellow bible buddies.
MIcah’s and your message of helping the poor totally resounds with me David. It was delightful to raise sponsorship in my area for ten children for Compassion a few years ago. My mother often would say, “I never sit down to eat without thinking of those poor hungry children without any food to eat.” She would feed all of us children first and then take what was left over. Am visiting a nephew today who married a girl from Zambia. Always enjoy hearing you stories David and those of my fellow bloggers. God bless you my friends!
I wan to tell you all,—- I don’t know how to start.—- I had a dream early this morning, about the very thing, I had asked for you all to pray for my unbelief. My sister had commented on and I could not shun her thoughts. The dream was so vivid and in the dream I was showing my husband and he was acting so benevolent and looking at me strange. As I woke up before I opened my eyes I said to myself “Oh no, I was dreaming!” —— I really do believe that God can do all things. I am wondering what I would do if and when he would do this for me. Praise God Jesus and Holy Spirit.
As I read your personal 100 words…I was reminded of the time your Son David Reynold and Cathy and their young family spent the night as street people because of the compassion their young son who was moved with compassion when he saw a young boy who was in need living on the street…I don’t recall the whole story, but I do remember them sleeping out on the street that night..
Thank you Pastor David for your perseverance in continuing with the ministry through good and difficult times…as a channel for many to come to know God’s love and salvation…and the ministry continues on through your extended family…
May God continue to strengthen you and Norma-Jean for many years to come.
Thank you Mr. Mainse for the blogs! It is good discipline for me!
in regards to non-profit socieites; one thing concerns me: people need to investigate and ensure that the salaries of the employees are in line and inflated! I believe the Salvation Army servants receive appropriate salaries; I also believe the same with 100 Huntley Street… people need to check financial statements and make sure that expenses are “not over the top” God bless you Mr. Mainse and again, THANK YOU FOR AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR LIFE FOR FOR SEVING THE LORD FAITHFULLY!
We go back a very long time! It was in Red Deer in the 1960’s that we heard of you David,and your tv program(although we didn’t have a TV at that time)What a blessing you have been down through the years to us and many,many people.We have prayed for you during your illness also and so glad you are feeling and looking so well. God is so good! Ross is going to be 90 years old this year and I (Melva) am close behind. We were in the ministry with the PAOC for over 40 years and build 3 wonderful churches-still blessing their communities today. Now we are able to be close to our families and still enjoying the blessing of the Lord. We have enjoyed your blog so much-every day has been a blessing and I really have enjoyed the photo’s as that is my hobby. May God continue to bless you & your family and please keep us on your blog! Love in Christ-Ross & Melva