Do You Hear the Cries?

James 1:27 (New International Version)

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The composition teacher asked the class to write about an unusual event that happened during the past week. Little Johnny got up and read his essay.

It began, "Daddy fell into the well last week..."

"Oh, my!" the teacher exclaimed. "Is he all right?"

"He must be," said the boy. "He stopped yelling for help yesterday."

We are surrounded in our church, in our workplace, and in our community with people in need crying out for help. Sometimes the cries stop and we assume they're all right. The truth may well be that they have grown weary of seeing their pleas unanswered.

Are we listening for the cries for help?

Dear Lord we pray that our ears would be open to those around us that are crying out for help. Help us be aware of the cries around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.