Doctor to patient: “I have bad news and worse news.”
Patient: “So let’s have it.”
Doctor: “The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live.”
Patient: “I can’t imagine what could be worse than that!”
Doctor: “I forgot to tell you yesterday.”
As hurricane Florence, now a large category 2 hurricane, bears down in the eastern coast, most of us reading this are clear from its effects. But, I’m lead to think of not how we deal with storms in our own lives, but how we respond to the storms we see in others lives. A few things come to mind.
The encouragement others bring to us when they go through a storm well. There is something so CHALLENGING about seeing someone else love Jesus and trust Jesus through hardship.
We get a glimpse as to whether we’re self-focused or Jesus and others focused. Jesus in Luke 10:25-37 answered this question posed by an expert in the Law, “Who is my neighbor?” by telling us the parable of the Good Samaritan. The synopsis is that Jesus expects us to respond to others who are going through hardship. The example of the sponge being squeezed and what comes out doesn’t lie is an applicable picture here. When others are going through hardship do we respond with compassion and love or does our response resemble Job’s friends?
The Lord said this to Israel through the prophet Isaiah:
“For You have been a strong-place for those who could not help themselves and for those in need because of much trouble. You have been a safe place from the storm and a shadow from the heat. For the breath of the one who shows no pity is like a storm against a wall. Like heat in a dry place, You quiet the noise of the strangers. Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the one who shows no pity is made quiet.” Isaiah 25:4-5
Ask the Lord today, to give you a heart of compassion and like the good samaritan the spiritual energy to respond. May the Lord bless you richly with His great grace and His great love in Jesus’ name.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill