COVID-19 Novel Encouragement Sample

Putting aside self-preservation and loving our neighbors

“But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, when he saw him, had compassion.” Luke 10:33 (LEB)

One of the stories which were read during our family Bible study times this week was the story of 'The Good Samaritan'. Whilst my wife and I tried to convey the message to our children about having compassion for each other, I realized that it is not just our family members on whom we are to have compassion, but also the people outside our doors, outside our neighborhood, outside our city and outside our country.

Trying to make two teenagers, an eight-year-old and five-year-old, show compassion to each other is difficult enough, but to get an adult not to turn a blind eye to someone in need is possibly more difficult. As adults, we are so set in our ways of looking out for number one that we forget that Christ taught the young rich man that “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) is the second greatest commandment.

We all tend to teach our children to care for other people but forget that to show compassion to others is a Christian characteristic. Caring for others was an everyday event for the Early Church in such a manner that the apostles eventually had to appoint deacons to look after this specific caring function in the church (Acts 6:1b).

We also have a great example in Christ in how He always had compassion for those who were ill or at death's door. We know the stories when Christ healed the blind and the lame and when He raised the dead. But there is one particular example which I want to highlight.

“And getting out of the boat He saw the large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34

Christ not only had compassion for and cared for those who were ill, but He also had compassion for people who were in need of food. The verse in Mark is where Christ and His disciples fed the crowd of 5 000 with only 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Christ understood the fears that people had of illness and death, yet this did not stop Him from having compassion on the people, healing the sick and raising the dead. The early Church lived the way that the apostles saw Christ live, with compassion for the poor and the sick around them. The Early Church healed the sick (Acts 3:4-8; 5:15b) and made a habit of selling their possessions so that they may look after the widows and the orphans, the sick and the needy (Acts 4:32).

We, as the church in Beijing, need to look at emulating not only the early Church but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in caring for our neighbors.

What do I mean by caring for our neighbors? I mean caring by helping with what we can, and what the Spirit lays on our hearts. This could be through providing food for our elderly neighbors, emotional support for a friend locked down in the apartment or material support for residents in a locked-down city. As long as we are there, ready, willing and able to help.

Lastly, we are called to pray, to pray consistently and unceasingly. We are called to pray for our neighbors, for our leaders, for the government.

I shall leave you with one last verse, a verse that exemplifies God's heart for His people, how He responds to those who are going through a storm.

“Just like the caring of a shepherd for his herd on the day when he is in the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will look after my flock, and I will deliver them from all the places to which they are scattered on the day of storm and stress.” Ezekiel 34:12

By James E Botha, Beijing