02/10/2021
When you are in a bad place in your life, or are frightened because you find yourself experiencing dire straits, where do you turn for help? If you are a believer you naturally call out to Jesus, and turn towards God to catch you as you are falling, but the interesting thing is that even those who might have denied God previously will call on Him in times of exceptional fear or hardship... and by His catching them they will come to witness His goodness and power, and It will change them.
“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”
Psalm 145:14 ESV
In our human nature we might be reluctant to help those who are not our friends, or are people who have refused to come to our aid in a time of our great need, but as believers we should look to Jesus, and God, for our example, and guidance. We should open our hand, show compassion, and help all those who are struggling. An enemy who was won over in their time of great distress by an act of kindness, becomes a friend forever.
“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
Psalm 145:15-16 ESV
There was a group of high school friends driving to school one morning when they saw a boy who had treated them poorly was having car trouble and was stranded on the side of the road. They passed him by, but one good fellow told the others that they should go back and help him. The response came quickly as one of the friends said “I wouldn’t help him if you paid me!”, and the others agreed. The good fellow among them pressed his case, and eventually they turned around and helped the boy fix his car... from that day on they were all friends... the bully became a new person.
God helps us all when we call on him. He does this for the same reason it was good that the friends should help their enemy... it wins hearts, and the hardness of sad souls can be overcome. Doing this glorifies God, and when we do it in our lives it gives us a warm feeling inside, a sense of joy, and lifts us up spiritually as well.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10 ESV
So we should help others in their need because it wins us friends, and we will reap the reward of warmth and joy inside, but there is something even more important... we avoid sinning. If we know what is right, and not do it, it hurts us spiritually. We feel the guilt of our inaction because it is sin to us.
Have you ever seen a beggar and not given him some change, drink, or a bite of food? Did it make you feel guilty to have walked by him... leaving him hungry? There is a good reason why you feel this way; you are being convicted by the Spirit that abides in you. So be as God is, and help all those who call out to you... it is much more than a good deed... it is righteousness.
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
James 4:17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our call when we are in distress, and responding to it. Thank you too for teaching us how to be as you are, and to respond to those we find wanting, or in trouble. We thank you for the warmth and joy this brings us physically, and spiritually. Your Holy Spirit guides us as we are tempted to sin in such situations, and we thank you for breathing Him onto us for moments just like this do that we learn the power of righteousness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is merciful to all; even the sinner. We praise you for your goodness, and for rescuing us from our sin and death through Christ... even when we our actions demonstrated that we didn’t deserve it. Your glorious grace abounds, and we pray that you will strengthen us so that we to will be strong in showing grace through our kindness to those around us. Jesus see our hearts, and lead us to righteousness through our faith, contrition, and your forgiveness. Stand with us before the Father on the day of judgement and tell of those times we showed compassion, mercy, and forgiveness through unwarranted grace to even the least of God’s children.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 ESV
Rich Forbes