Proverbs 14:11 “The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.”
I came across this scripture, and it made me think about the immigration situation, particularly in the United States.
It takes at truly selfless person to understand the plight of an immigrant, especially a refugee. But to concern yourself with the oppression of others is not only a selfless thing to do, but it is one of the most Christ like. Jesus loved us so much that He took on our oppression as a price for our freedom – and all we have to do is accept Him.
We don’t have to pass a test or go through an obstacle course to get to Jesus, all we have to do is say yes. We don’t have to fill out any papers or pass some background check. He has already done all the work. He has been standing at the door, waiting to let us in. All we need to do is knock.
This Proverb stood out to me because it says the house of the wicked and then refers to the tent of the upright; and the tent made me think about refugee camps. The camps where refugees live in tents, watching as their homes are destroyed or dealing with the separation from their families. Not sure where their next meal will come from or what their next move should be.
In Matthew 25, Jesus directly identifies himself with the downtrodden: 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”
This is the measure of the final judgement before God. Sit back and think on your life: What have I don’t to people? What am I doing to aid those who are suffering? This was so important to God that Jesus repeats himself in order for there to be no confusion: Help People. That’s it. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they have done. Because it is not about them or you. It is about God’s Kingdom and pouring out the love of Jesus.
Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[c] you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
We can only be like Christ when we learn to identify with those He also identified with. Jesus knew that he was a King, the Son of the Most High God. He knew he wasn’t merely an ordinary man by any standard, but those were His people. Jesus loved them all, and it is this unexplainable love that led Him to lay down His life in the hopes that people would be free. So why do we continue to accept excuses for oppression when we are in a place to offer freedom? Lord, I pray:
Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”
Welcome 