Thought for Monday, June 18th

June 18, 2012

A Soul In Need is a Soul We Should be Helping

Albert Schweitzer said, “You don’t live in a world all your own.  Your brothers are here too.”

So then we might ask, who is it that we should consider to be our brothers?

According to the parable Jesus taught about the Good Samaritan: anyone in need that we encounter along the way is indeed our neighbor, or if you will our brother in this thing we call humanity.

And who is there among us who does not encounter hurting and needy people each and every day, every where we go?

As God’s children we do not just have the opportunity to do good for others, we have a duty and responsibility to do so.  Remember Jesus told His disciples and those following Him that when we do something for the least of those among us, we are doing the same for Him.

“A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbors.”

Richard Whately

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48

In a world where needs are rampant, and so many lives need to be touched and ministered too, how can we not reach out and touch someone with the greatness of God’s love that we have so freely received.  While we cannot necessarily meet every need of every person we meet, we need to be faithful and diligent to meet the needs we can and to help guide and direct those we cannot help to a source or resource that might be able to meet their need.  And don’t forget the ultimate and quintessential need meter is our Heavenly Father.

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are more glorious, more gracious and more giving than I have words to describe.  Your grace is endless and your mercies endure forever.  Help me to be a facilitator of your grace and mercy, along with your love and kindness by reaching out to as many as you send my way both in love and in a manner that will enable me, with your help, to meet as many of their needs as I can.

“My life is in You Lord
My strength is in You Lord
My hope is in You Lord
In You, it’s in You

I’ll praise You with all of my life
I’ll praise You with all of my strength
With all of my life, with all of my strength
All my hope is in You “

-  Lyrics from ‘My Life Is In You Lord’ by Daniel Gardner