The view from my TV screen is grim. Grinding, swirling winds have ripped across the land, stealing homes, people, and possessions. Many of us watched the TV screen, stunned at the magnitude of the devastation, feeling helpless to render aid. We are not helpless. God has not left us helpless!
My sis posted on her website the fact that Samaritan's Purse was on site at the disaster and was a faithful steward of donations. A friend called to say their family was fasting and praying through the night. Some give, some pray, and some go. It's God's way. This is how the "God Team" does it. Each of these are very real, very necessary helps.
On this same day, the daily devotional from the collection of our Papa's sermons was about the Good Samaritan, called "Whose Neighbor Am I?"
"But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:29
Neighbor, in the lawyer's judgment meant nearness and he wished to know how far the boundaries of the command lay. But Christ's answer swept all such limitations aside. Said Christ, "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
"He who showed mercy on him," said the lawyer.
We are not to love, therefore, because we are neighbors in any geographical sense only, but we become neighbors to the man farthest from us when we love and help him. The word neighbor, therefore, is as wide as humanity.
What a lesson we have here as to the true manifestations of neighborliness. Compassionate sentiments are fine, but the emotions that do not drive the wheels of action and kindness of a tangible character are purposeless. it is not enough to love God, but we are to love our neighbor as ourselves also.
At this hour, the man with a neighborly spirit is the man of the hour. He will rise above questions of race, nationality, religion or geography. He will help in the material needs as well as the spiritual needs of those he would help. He will do good at the cost of self-sacrifice. Our love must be practical, unselfish, and real, as was our Savior's.
Now, let us go and do likewise.
Blessings,
Patti and Cara
Classic Christianity: a Year of Timeless Devotions
My sis posted on her website the fact that Samaritan's Purse was on site at the disaster and was a faithful steward of donations. A friend called to say their family was fasting and praying through the night. Some give, some pray, and some go. It's God's way. This is how the "God Team" does it. Each of these are very real, very necessary helps.
On this same day, the daily devotional from the collection of our Papa's sermons was about the Good Samaritan, called "Whose Neighbor Am I?"
"But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:29
Neighbor, in the lawyer's judgment meant nearness and he wished to know how far the boundaries of the command lay. But Christ's answer swept all such limitations aside. Said Christ, "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
"He who showed mercy on him," said the lawyer.
We are not to love, therefore, because we are neighbors in any geographical sense only, but we become neighbors to the man farthest from us when we love and help him. The word neighbor, therefore, is as wide as humanity.
What a lesson we have here as to the true manifestations of neighborliness. Compassionate sentiments are fine, but the emotions that do not drive the wheels of action and kindness of a tangible character are purposeless. it is not enough to love God, but we are to love our neighbor as ourselves also.
At this hour, the man with a neighborly spirit is the man of the hour. He will rise above questions of race, nationality, religion or geography. He will help in the material needs as well as the spiritual needs of those he would help. He will do good at the cost of self-sacrifice. Our love must be practical, unselfish, and real, as was our Savior's.
Now, let us go and do likewise.
Blessings,
Patti and Cara
Classic Christianity: a Year of Timeless Devotions
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