Daily Devotional for Thursday August 17, 2006
Helping Others is not an Options
(Acts 20:35)
One of the most compelling things about the accounts of Jesus' life in the Gospels is His compassion for those who were hurting. Jesus loved people. Jesus had a heart for those who were looking for hope. It does not take a Biblical scholar to understand that as a child of God, helping others is the main job God has given us to do. The scriptures are full of exhortations to help those in need, the poor, the widows. While the needs of some people are obvious, we are also to be there for those whose needs may not be as obvious, the spiritually poor.
You see, the spiritually poor are looking for answers to the questions of life. When the challenges of this life become overwhelming, they are looking for answers, looking for hope. A person in this state of mind, at this place in their life is in desperate need of a word from God. Where does that word come from? From the people God sends into their life, YOU AND ME!
I realize many of you today are facing great battles in your life. Struggles with sin. Struggles on your job or at school. Struggles in your family relationships. Struggles with your finances. Struggles with your health. Let me share something with you that I learned years ago. It was at the height of my personal struggles, when my natural tendency was to focus solely on the battles I was facing, that I would seek out ways to serve God by helping someone else.
Even though my battles didn't go away, they became more manageable. The struggles weren't as difficult and answers to my problems came a little easier. Why? I am convinced the Bible teaches us that if we will be about our Father's business, He will be about our business. It is a spiritual principle that works!!!
I want to challenge you today. Pray about who it is God has put in your life who is hurting and needing hope in the midst of a difficult situation. It may be someone in your family. Possibly a friend. Maybe someone at church. It could be a person at your work or in your school. God has strategically placed you in the life of someone today who is hurting and in need of a word from God.
Once you have prayed and God shows you who it is, reach out to that person. Have a cup of coffee or a bite to eat with them. Go do something together. Get that person in a one-on-one situation and let them know they are not alone in their battle, that they are not alone in whatever they are going through. You are there to stand with them, to pray with them, and to help them see victory. Often, it is not necessary to do more than just reach out in love to that person who is hurting, for them to see and feel the love of Christ coming from you. I have always said it is usually not what we say, but what we do that shows the Christ in us to others.
I love you, and care about you so much. I will be praying for you today because I know you are going through problems in your life. I am reaching out to you to let you know I will pray for you, I will stand with you, and I will be here to help you overcome whatever the battles are in your life. God has given us each other because He never expected us to go through this journey alone. We are to bear one another's burdens.
Today, reach out to that person God has placed on your heart. Show them the love of Christ through your actions. Let them know they are not alone, that someone cares for them. That can be the difference between victory and defeat in their life, between them living without hope, and moving forward victoriously over the problems in their life. Never forget, helping others is not an option, it is what God has called His children to do.