Daily Topic for November 24, 2004
Saul was so desperate for advice that he bade a spirit medium call up Samuel from the dead. But Samuel reminded Saul that it was his own disobedience, not lack of advice, that had caused God to reject him. Remember that Saul’s catastrophic disobedience had seemed to him to be merely incomplete obedience. God has also given us certain commands, and Christ’s last command was the Great Commission. Many Christian leaders today are reaffirming the scriptural truth that unless we who are spiritually and materially blessed are more completely obedient in reaching the unreached peoples, God may take His hand of blessing from us, just as He did from Saul.
Forgive us, Lord, and give us joy as we learn to obey Your commands completely.
A person will not be interested in spiritual food when his stomach is crying for physical food. Mission agencies have found that they must first care for the physical and material needs of people before those they are trying to reach are interested in the spiritual.
Most Hindu Bengalis live in India’s West Bengal state. Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal, has the lowest standard of living of any city in the world.
Operation Mobilization in India (OM India) is attempting to break the cycle of poverty in Calcutta’s slums. They provide health care, education for children and literacy classes for adults.
Their Good Shepherd project aims to help slum dwellers earn money to support themselves and their families. One recent project taught women cross-stitching in a vocational training program. After they finish the course, the women are able to earn money. Self-help projects like this open the door for OM members to make significant friendships with the people and their family members. This provides them a way to share the love of Christ in a practical way.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray for OM India to continue to be creative and resourceful in developing projects that will benefit the poor and demonstrate God’s love for them. Pray for receptive hearts among the Hindu Bengalis.-JS
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