ODJ: beautiful expressions
May 7, 2011
“You sent help more than once” (v.16).
READ: Philippians 4:10-20
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. —Roxanne Robbins
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?
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Dear All,
Let this article be a remind to us to look out and seek people in need in spite of our busy schedule.
Let us also be reminded that it is not shameful to ask for help when needed. We cannot blame others, if when in need, we just sit around our homes, silencing demanding people help us when we have not told anyone of our needs. How would someone come forward to help if you are to shy or too prideful to request help?