A Deep Sense

We all have a deep sense of awe or urgency to help someone at some point in our lives. We see or hear of something tragic happen and want to give of our time or money. We learn about someone in our work or school who is going through a hard time and we want to help. We have a friend or family member who has become sick or lost a loved one and we feel like reaching out to them.
Acts 2:43-47 “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
It is human nature to want to do for others. We have that feeling to make a difference created in us by God because we are made in His image. He has created us to be like Him so when the urge or the feelings come about to help out a fellow human being, it is because God is moving us toward doing something to make a difference.

We should be careful, however, to not let the feeling pass too quickly. When we hear of something happening to another person and we have that urge to make a difference, we need to act on it. If we don’t we could easily move back into our mode of living our lives and waiting until it is too late to help.

When we hear of situations or opportunities to help we need to act on them. It may be simply stopping what we are doing and making a phone call. It may be scheduling a time to go and do some volunteer work. It may be communicating to some others to get a group together to do something to help out.

Whatever the action is we need to do, we need to act on it immediately. Our feelings to make a difference are real. When we feel compelled to help someone, we need to keep the feeling and take action. If we put it out of our head until we get something else done at home, at work or at school, the feeling will soon pass. We may remember but we may forget.

God puts these urges to help or these opportunities to make a difference in our path when He feels it is time for us to do something. When we put it off or dismiss it in our minds, we are putting off God’s instructions and we are being disobedient. We may have good intentions to do something but we get involved in other things and soon we find that we did nothing at all.

We should earnestly look for opportunities to help. If we aren’t able to assist in one area, we need to continue to find the place God wants us to be. It is not always the first place we go who needs are help. God puts the urge in our hearts to make a difference and we are to follow the path He sets before us until we have completed the task He gives us to do. Giving up is not an option.

Feelings of sorry or sympathy for others when they are hurting are real. When we have these feelings, God is telling us to take action. When we have these feelings, God is creating for us an opportunity. When we have these feelings, God is asking us to go out and make a difference in the lives of others and to be a witness for Him while we are helping. We can’t and we shouldn’t ignore them.

Opportunities to help others are also opportunities to witness to others. When God speaks to us to go out and serve in areas we never thought about serving, we are to help with a loving and giving heart but we are also to tell them about how great our God is and how they can know Him just as we do. Next time we hear about someone who is in need, let’s step up and make that difference God wants us to make and be a witness for Him.