DATE POSTED
Sunday, June 7, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 21:13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Contemporary English Version (CEV).

If you won’t help the poor, don’t expect to be heard when you cry out for help.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

When we walk in a true, personal relationship with the God of this universe, something wonderful happens: He begins to change us from the inside out. He opens our eyes to how we can grow in Him, learn His commands, and transform our personal attitudes so that we can faithfully share His love with a hurting world.

But a major part of that internal correction involves learning to love the very people this world considers unlovable or undeserving. To succeed at this, the Holy Spirit must teach us to look at our daily circumstances and the people we encounter through the lens of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Think about the radical way Jesus lived. Although He could have chosen the religious elite, He chose lowly fishermen to be His closest disciples. In that culture, people often looked down on fishermen because they constantly smelled of fish, and many preferred to keep their distance. Jesus also chose to eat with tax collectors, even calling one named Matthew to follow Him. Tax collectors were deeply mistrusted because they routinely took financial advantage of the poor.

Jesus spent so much time with those who rejected Him that the religious leaders complained bitterly about Him:

“And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” — Luke 15:2

The Jewish people also harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Samaritans. To avoid them at all costs, travelers would actually use a well-known bypass road, taking a longer route just to ensure they wouldn’t have to set foot in Samaria or look a Samaritan in the eye. Yet, Jesus intentionally walked right through that territory. He went straight to a well, encountered a woman with a very colorful past, and saw her exactly for who she was: a precious soul who desperately needed a touch from the Master.

The Bypasses We Build Today

I have to wonder: who are the “fishermen” in our lives today? Who are the people we tend to look down on or avoid because we detest their smell, their clothes, or the behavior associated with their struggles? Where are the places we take a mental or emotional “bypass” just to keep our distance?

None of us are perfect, and it is natural to despise being ripped off or taken advantage of financially. But which of the modern-day “tax collectors” we cross paths with are we genuinely willing to invite to church? Are we willing to let them sit right next to us in the pew, introduce them to our pastors and friends, and ultimately introduce them to Jesus? Would you consider going to the fishing docks and doing the same there – invite them to your church, your pew and to meet your pastor and your friends?

Most of us have been around long enough to recognize the beggars, the cheaters, and those looking to exploit a situation. We have learned how to protect ourselves and avoid them. But have we ever stopped to ask Jesus to help us love the ones He loves? Have we asked Him to help us see the people He is actively seeking to save?

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives us a beautiful reminder of His core mission:

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’” — Luke 5:31-32

Are you able to see beyond those who are healthy in body and soul? Are you able to look past the rich, the comfortable, and those who have it all together to see the urgent needs of the broken?

A Drastic Measure for a Divided Heart

In our focal scripture today, God gives us a sobering warning about what happens when we choose to turn a blind eye to the suffering around us:

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” — Proverbs 21:13

That is a drastic measure for God to take, but He does it to get our attention. He wants us to live exactly how Jesus lived and taught.

The religious leaders of the New Testament had a very specific, rigid image in their minds of what holiness looked like. They were absolutely flabbergasted to see Jesus doing the exact opposite of their traditions by sitting down and sharing a meal with sinners.

When it comes to addressing the raw, unfiltered needs of the people around you, do you look more like those religious leaders, or do you look like Jesus? Is there anything in your heart that needs to be handed over to God today so that your life aligns more closely with the Savior’s? We all want our prayers to be heard, especially when we find ourselves in deep seasons of personal need. Let us examine our hearts today to ensure that a closed ear to the broken isn’t the very thing hindering God’s attention to our own cries.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have taken the “bypass” to avoid people who are messy, broken, or difficult to love. Forgive me for closing my ears to the cries of the poor and needy while expecting You to always be listening to my own requests. Holy Spirit, change my vision. Help me to look at my neighbors, my co-workers, and even the strangers on the street through the compassionate lens of Jesus Christ. Give me a heart that naturally seeks out the spiritually and physically sick, rather than just the comfortable. Cleanse me of any pride, and let my life be an open channel of Your unconditional love. In the beautiful and merciful name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!