SincereMilkDevotional and FaithWatch Reflection

  Sunday Tonic: How to Deal with Poverty as a Christian and in a Community Poverty is one of the deepest challenges facing individuals and communities today. It affects not only material well-being but also emotional, spiritual, and social stability. For Christians, dealing with poverty is not simply about survival—it is about living out faith, hope, and love in the midst of difficulty. Scripture offers both personal encouragement and communal responsibility when it comes to confronting poverty. 1. Recognizing Poverty Beyond Finances Poverty is often thought of only in terms of money, but it extends further. There is material poverty (lack of food, shelter, and resources), relational poverty (isolation, lack of support), and spiritual poverty (living without hope or purpose). Jesus reminded us that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). A holistic approach to poverty means addressing both physical needs and the...

  . Sunday Tonic:  Look Unto Jesus and Live (Numbers 21:8–9; John 3:14–15; Hebrews 12:2) Beloved in Christ, Life presents us with many battles—some seen, others hidden deep in our hearts. In the wilderness, the children of Israel faced deadly serpents, and many perished. But God gave a simple yet profound instruction: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). Those who obeyed and looked upon the bronze serpent lived. Those who refused perished. This points us to Christ. As Jesus explained, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). Looking Away from Ourselves Too often, when life’s serpents bite us—sin, guilt, fear, failure—we look inward, trying to save ourselves. But self cannot save self. Israel could not heal their own wounds. They had to look outside themselves to the ...