Last spring, in Stephenville, TX, a 28-year-old wife and mother, Brandi Todd, experienced a brutal attack that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She had been sitting on a bench, watching her children play at the local municipal park, when a mentally ill stranger approached and stabbed her in the back, nearly severing her spinal cord.
“It knocked my breath out,” Brandi later said. “I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t yell. I just sat there for a second, and I immediately lost sensation in my legs.”
Because her husband had recently lost his job, Todd was without medical insurance. Yet, in the midst of her darkest hour, the Lord prompted all three Christian churches in the small town of 300 to come to Brandi’s assistance—tangibly demonstrating that “He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer” (Psalm 9:12).
The congregants, from differing denominations, united to rebuild Brandi’s home. They widened door openings and lowered countertops to make the house wheelchair accessible. The men and women also painted, cleaned, and helped in many other ways (Philippians 4:14).
It’s a beautiful expression of Jesus’ love and of Christian community when people live out the apostle Paul’s instructions in Romans 12:13, which say, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
As for unbelievers, Paul wrote, “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone” (Galatians 6:9-10). Time and time again in the Bible, we see God’s tender heart for the poor and needy. Since He cares for those who are in need, we too must care for them (Deuteronomy 15:7-8; Mark 14:7).
Let His beauty radiate as you reach out today with compassion to those who need your loving words and actions.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 6:1–7:10
More:
Read Matthew 25:34-46. How has your church fulfilled its role of helping others?
Next:
What can you and the members of your church do to help needy people in your own community? How do your acts of kindness and compassion change others? Change you?
eppistle on May 7, 2011 at 5:47 am
Too many times, the evangelical church is known for what it’s against (and we do need to stand up against those who oppress the least of these – whether the unborn or the enslaved). But if we were also known for what we’re for (such as helping this woman who was attacked), these beautiful expressions would attract people to the Lord. This would require far more sacrifice of time, talents and treasures than most of us are giving now. We have fallen way short of the Macedonian example who “out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). It may well mean that we give far more than a tithe to the Lord’s work – possibly 20-30% of our income. Unfortunately now the average American evangelical gives more like 2-3% to charity. But many of us could afford giving 20-30% to charity if we spent less money on unnecessary upgrades on status symbols and gadgets. What was once considered unnecessary luxury items are now considered necessary.
GChoo on May 7, 2011 at 9:04 am
I praise God for the wonderful works that some churches are doing to further the glory of His Kingdom.
I am so grateful that i belong to a church who is not only concerned for the spiritual well being of the members but also reaching out to the community and afar (yearly overseas mission work). It is so important not just to preach God’s Word but to ACT so that other non believers will see the good God had done in our lives, which brings blessing to others and great joy to our Heavenly Father. Therefore, as in Hebrews 13:16 says ‘And do not forget to do good …, such sacrifices God is pleased. When we are willing, Hebrews 13:20-21 say ‘May the God of peace, … equip you with everything good for doing His will, … glory for ever and ever. Amen.’
Roxanne, thanks for your reminder. Eppistle, really appreciate your sharing.