the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Blessed is he that considereth the poor. Psalms 41:1. He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21. To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:16.
What benefits the Lord has bestowed upon us! How much we have cost Him! He sacrificed His life-blood for us; not only all that He possessed did He sacrifice, but He has sacrificed Himself and is sacrificing Himself for us forever. He does not demand anything from us for Himself; but our poor and needy brethren, whom He calls His brethren. His poor, we are to give what we would gladly give Him, if He should need it. What would you do if, at the sight of heart-rending misery, you discovered your Savior in the poor, if He should show you the wounds He has received for your sake, if He were to say to you, "Behold, this have I done for you when I saw you lying in your blood; what have you done for me? " Tell me, what would you do if you saw and heard the Savior bodily in the poor? Then do it even now; for His word must be as important to you as His person. He who does good to the suffering, plants for himself a paradise, a garden, the fruits of which will refresh him in time of need. Every charitable deed is a seed sown for eternity, which will not fail to bear fruit. Plant daily at least one tree in this garden; in a year you will have three hundred and sixty-five trees; at last you will have a large orchard. However, do not set out your plants with the purpose of pleasing yourself only. Let not your left hand know what your right hand has planted.
Thy face, with reverence and with love,
We in Thy poor would see;
O may we minister to them,
And in them, Lord, to Thee!
