Acts Of Compassion

Matthew 25:40 says, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

Earlier this week, I was scrolling through social media and saw a video of a woman who stopped to talk with a man standing outside a store without shoes. First, she tried to give him her shoes, but his feet were too big. So, she went into the store and bought him shoes and a hat. The man opened his lunch and wanted to share it with her, but she declined and instead offered to buy him a hot meal. She told him, "I don’t have much money myself, but I will help anyone I see that needs it."

This reminds me of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, found in Luke 10:25-37. It depicts an amazing story of loving your neighbor.

Matthew 22:37-39 says, “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

The better we know our neighbors, the more intentional we can be when praying for them. This is another way that we can help each other.

If you are wondering what you can pray for someone, all you have to do is ask questions. Simple questions encourage others to share their stories and needs. Then ask God for wisdom on how you can pray for them. It is about connecting with each other and offering our time and prayers.

We are able to love and help because God loved us first. He wants us to look to Him and remain in Him.

John 15:9-13 says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Our ability to love, care for, and help one another is a true characteristic of God, and as His followers, we need to adopt and live out these qualities.