Caring For Others

Lately I’ve thinking how I could help and care for others more. I would often come across something online about donating to this and donating to that and 99% of the time I wouldn’t. I reflected recently, and wondered if that was the right choice. Of course I wasn’t going to donate to every cause because of various reasons. But I really felt that I wasn’t doing enough. So I prayed for tangible opportunities to be helpful to those in need – and can you believe it God answered my prayers! That week God gave me two opportunities to be of help in different ways and they almost slipped out of my hands! Wow I was so thankful to God because he really heard my prayers and put me to the task. That’s the love of God. He cares so much for us that he desires to help us grow in our Christian walk, if we but ask him.

Showing we Are Caring For Others

We’re living in a world that has really flipped upside down. The earth is full of birth pangs, and the heart of man is waxing colder and colder. These are signs, amongst many others, that the Lord is coming back soon. But the question always is, are we joining in the world and choosing likewise to be cold and unfeeling or are we deciding to be set apart for God and love others as ourselves. Colossians 3:13 says, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Showing love to others when you feel they’ve hurt you can be difficult, it honestly takes the strength of God to overcome bitterness and strife, and we cannot do it by ourselves. But at the end of the day that is was God calls us to do. To forgive. To love. To bear no grudges. Pray for one another. It is wise to separate yourself from someone you believe to have hurt you or committing sin in order to maintain the peace and keep yourself unspotted. Also, forgiving someone is not synonymous with condoning sin. Yet also instructed by Jesus is to talk one on one with a brother/sister who has offended you in order to try and settle matters. If they wish not to hear then you have not gained them and you must move on (Matthew 18:15-17). I recall recently forgoing this because I had forgotten what the scripture had said about it and the affect wasn’t great. But by God’s grace I was reminded by his word and sought to rectify my mistake immediately.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

galatians 6:1

We all Need Love

But sticking on the topic of caring for others. We as humans, go through so many emotions each day. Many are wives, husbands, mothers and fathers etc who harbour their own stresses and strife, let no one view any person as perfect. We fall daily. When we feel that something is wrong with someone we know, then reaching out goes a long way. Silence, as if nothing, happened can cause animosity and separation. Why do I say this? Frankly, because of experience. Often God has put in my heart to contact someone, and I put it off constantly – wanting to but not getting round to it. And many times (as experienced over the years), another mutual friend would mention having recently caught up with that person and I my heart would sink because I hadn’t yet done so. Clearly God had instead used someone else to do the job. But of course that wouldn’t stop me from reaching out anyway. But the lesson was learnt. These are the realities of life my friends, when we delay caring for others or showcasing love for others. So I pray that we always try to promptly check on our friends, people we haven’t heard from for a while. God may just want to use you to help that person in a way only they would know.

⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Mathew 25:44-45

As the Day of The Lord Draws Near

Life on earth as Christians can be so fulfilling when we listen to God. When we choose everyday to be caring for others – no matter what. No matter what. Friends, Christ is coming back soon – are you excited?! Keep pressing on! Let us endeavour to be blameless, spotless, free of hatred, hearts full of love so that the devil will be put to shame. He is trying to steal, kill and destroy Christians everywhere, sifting you like wheat. May the Lord soften our hearts, may we be reminded that we will suffer like Christ, but like him we must always show love, caring for other’s souls and that means telling the truth, lest they be burnt by the fire. If I have done wrong, I pray that one would never think me unapproachable to be talked to. And I pray that I will be humble enough to listen and respond with humility and gentleness. It’s not always easy, I must admit. By calling out sin as the Lord leads you, I really believe you clear yourself from sinning. James 4:17 says, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:23