Oh, how rewarding it is to help others when they are in need. It might be small helps, like giving someone some fresh baked cookies, sending a note or email of encouragement, a small gift for no reason at all… whatever the case may be, how often are you on the lookout to see if someone might need help? Maybe it’s the checkout girl at the grocery store, who has been on her feet for 4 hours, and she’s in pain because she twisted her ankle, the homeless guy who would love a cup of coffee and a meal, or someone who is just in need, for whatever reason? Luke 10 tells us in v 25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denariic and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”
…………...And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
We are all guilty of running into our day, thinking we’ll reach out to someone who is on our heart, but then time goes by, we forget, and the moment runs into days weeks or months. It’s too late – so we think. Never give up;
We are / should, always be ready to lend a hand, help a friend, offer love, a hug or cookie, and coffee to others. Woudnt we appreciate that when we feel down? Reciprocation. And yet, if we never receive back what we give, God knows what has been done in secret… and he will respond accordingly.
Life Lesson:
Years ago, one of my cousins was left, within days, of nowhere to live and two children under 7. He was distraught. Confused. Life happened. He was stuck. My husband and I said yes to his need. Without hesitation, we opened our home to him, in his moment of need. Because we loved. And we cared. We know he would do the same for us. Most importantly, we were the arms and hands of Jesus. The reward came back to me years later when I needed a place to stay. The doors of opportunity opened when I was in need. Not by my cousin, of which I know he would have if it were feasible… but by an unlikely opportunity. God opened the windows of heaven. Reciprocation. Sometimes it is not always a fun thing, nor a something we hope will happen, but God already knows the path of our life; there are tests he gives us, if I would not have said yes to this situation to help my cousin, God may well have shut the door to someone helping me later in life; I didn’t know, surely wasn’t planning on that happening, but he offers favor when we are pliable and willing to open our hands and hearts, not just use empty words that never offer real fruit in or to our lives. God is able. He owns the cattle on the hill, and knows how to help us and prompts us to help others, as we ARE HIS HANDS and FEET to this world. Let us be ready to shine the light of hope into this very dark world.
Step out this week to really be a help to someone. A blessing will be stored up in heaven for you! 🙂 Great is your reward.
Father, we are willing but sometimes our flesh is weak, we want to help, but get so busy with our own lives, that we push aside or wait until it may seem like the timing is off. Help guide us gently with your Spirit Lord, that we will be vessels that help others. May we be timely as well as we gift others along our path, with encouragement and help. We trust you Lord to provide the right tools to do just that, so people in our path will be blessed and see YOUR hand on this earth. You are alive and well. We thank you, Jesus. You are good and faithful, so be it unto each of us as well. We praise your sweet name. Amen.
Words By Design 