Daily Devotional for Tuesday October 26, 1999

Helping Others

(Psalm 41:1-3)

Like sharing our faith, helping others is not an option. It is something all throughout God's Word, we are told to do. When you read over and over throughout the Bible a certain command or way we should live, God is doing that for emphasis. In many passages in the Old and New Testament, God tells us to help others. As a matter of fact, Jesus says that the great commandment is to treat others as we would ourselves. So often in this selfish, self-centered world in which we live, it is easy to focus on ourselves to the extent we neglect the hurts and needs of others. I want to challenge you today to think about someone in your life, maybe a family member, a co-worker, or schoolmate, who could use a kind word or some help in their life. Reach out to that person. I have said many times that the most effective witness is not what you say, but how you live your life. Reach out in love and kindness and let them see Jesus in you.

One of the most exciting things that has happened on Liveprayer.com has been the effect of these daily devotionals. So much of what we hear in church and in different situations makes sense but has little relevance to our own life. My number one objective each morning as I sit down to write these devotionals is for God to give me the words to touch someone's life today. Make it practical, real life, biblically based, and about the daily struggles and challenges we face not only as Christians, but as real live human beings.

God has a perfect plan for each one of our lives. Some of that plan applies to all of us who know Jesus as our personal Savior. We all have the commandment to help others. That is the whole reason for www.liveprayer.com, to be a place on the Internet where people can find help and hope in their time of need. I want to really encourage you today to take very seriously God's direction for us to be a blessing to others. He blesses you so you can bless others. Take time today to reach out to someone you know and be a blessing. It doesn't have to be a major act, sometimes that kind word of encouragement can make all the difference in the world.

Thank you so much for being part of this great work of God. I pray for you, and am concerned about your needs. No one person can touch everyone, but God gives us each a sphere of influence and people to minister to. I take this responsibility very seriously. I pray that this will be a special day for you as you reach out to someone in need and let them know that there is hope, that they aren't alone, and that Jesus loves them.