30 Days of HeartworkSample

Touching The Need

HEART //

Compassion not only sees the need, compassion also touches the need. Throughout Scripture, the thing that always caught Jesus’ attention was another human being in need. Not only did he see the needs of those around him, but he was willing to act on their behalf.

In Jesus' culture, it would have been considered “defilement,” almost like polluting or contaminating himself to touch a person with leprosy. But Jesus cared more for the man than he did about what the culture said was right or what people would think about him. He lovingly engaged in the suffering the man was facing and touched and healed him.

It is often too easy for us to close our eyes to the needs of the people around us because we are too concerned with ourselves and what others may think of us. Jesus asks us to love one another as we love ourselves and says that the world will know that we are his disciples by the way we love one another. (John 13:35) What does the world see when they look at our lives? When we stop and remember how healing, comforting, and good God’s love has been to us, it’s not hard to want to share that love with others. Let’s keep our eyes open for opportunities to show the world what God’s love looks like.

Mother Teresa once said, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely, and the unwanted according to the graces we have received, and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” What grace have we received that we could use to bless someone in need? If we have a voice to encourage, a dollar to share, or a smile to offer, then we have something to give.

WORK //

As we spend time with Jesus, we begin to act like him. We begin to share in the sufferings of others and want to touch their needs. Think about the people in your life who may be suffering, and choose someone today to encourage with tangible words or actions. This may mean writing an encouraging letter, doing yard work for someone, or even just asking, “How are you?” and then listening and caring.