The Bible says: ‘As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.’ These widows were facing discrimination because they were outsiders. These women didn’t grow up in Judea or Galilee. They came from the distant lands of Greece, Rome, and Syria. If they spoke Aramaic at all, they did so with an accent. The Hebrew women were given the first pick. So, how did the church respond? ‘The Twelve [apostles] called a meeting of all the believers’ (v.2 NLT). They knew that discrimination was an issue that needed to be sorted, they wouldn’t tolerate it. And we should be standing against it too. Jesus came for the least, the lost, and the last. He said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4:18-19 NIVUK). Here we see the six things that God sent Him to do: 1) Preach the gospel to the poor. 2) Heal the broken-hearted. 3) Proclaim liberty to the captives. 4) Proclaim recovery of sight to the blind. 5) Set at liberty those who are oppressed. 6) Proclaim the year of the Lord. That was the year of Jubilee when all prisoners were set free, all debts forgiven, and all that was taken was restored. Jesus meets every need: body, soul, and spirit. We’ve been called to share that message with others. And we’ve been called to care for the least, lost and last, too.

What Now?

Who can you share the good news of Jesus with today? Why not take them for coffee and talk to them about your faith.