Jude 1:22

And of some have compassion, making a difference: 

DAILY READING Matthew 17; Numbers 3-4; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16

In 2014, Dr. Kent Brantly was on most leading News headlines. He was also on the cover of TIME magazine as Person of the Year. Dr. Kent, a missionary doctor with Samaritan’s purse, made news when he risked his life in the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. He took the bold step of leaving America to go to Liberia to cater to the sick and dying. This was at a time when foreigners were running out of the country, so as not to contract the disease. But Dr. Kent ran in the opposite direction. He felt led by God to go to where his medical skill was most needed. In Liberia the need was great, medical expertise was on the decline, and the disease was on the rise. Ebola treatment units [ETU] were running out of space as quickly as they were set up, and so with his wife, Kent left America.

Kent knew he had a calling from God to show compassion to people, and his desire was to put this compassion into practical use. Compassion perhaps was what made him forget medical protocol, and reach out to a heartbroken girl. This girl brought her mother who had contracted the Ebola virus to the medical center where Kent was working in Liberia. The child was distraught over her mother’s condition, and in a show of compassion, Dr. Kent put off his gloves and held her hands. That was a fatal mistake because though the girl didn’t have the disease, through her contact with her sick mother, she unknowingly passed the virus to Dr. Kent. A few days later, Dr. Kent was down with the Ebola disease. Faced with the possibility of death, it was a sobering moment indeed, but he said God placed such unspeakable peace in his heart, he knew he was doing what Jesus would do, in trying to show compassion. He was flown immediately to America, even as many around the world prayed and fasted for him. God did hear the prayers. A new Ebola drug Zmapp, yet to be tested on humans was experimented on him; he responded well and recovered fast, much to the amazement of those who had seen his earlier fast deteriorating condition. God honors faithfulness.

Though many would later see Dr. Kent as a hero for risking his life to aid the sick, he only saw himself as doing only what Jesus would do. For him it was practically living his faith even if it meant risking his life. He could have chosen to do nothing and look the other way, even as many more died, but he knew he had a call to answer.

Jesus asked us to lay down our lives for others. In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest, and the Levite saw the man in need and took to the other side of the road, but the Samaritan came by and took care of him. Jesus told this parable in response to the question, ‘who is my neighbor?’ And before His ascension He told the disciples to show love to one another by laying down their lives.

Often times, like the priest and Levite, we like to take the other side of the road when we see a need, and we even find good reasons for doing so; we don’t just want to get involved with people’s issues. We would rather observe from a distance.  The world is full of hurting people, even in the Church. They need someone to reach out in love. Love is practical; it is more of what you do than what you say. Apostle John wondered how one can see his brother hungry and ask him to be warm and fed, without doing something practical about his situation. We need to go beyond the walls – we have to reach out and touch. We need to go beyond the theory to the practical aspect of the Gospel. We need to reach out to others in love, especially those who are of the household of faith. Let us not love in words alone but also in deeds. Let us be physical manifestations of Jesus to those around us. Let us love our neighbor indeed and in truth.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to show true love and compassion to people in need. Help me to reach out and touch, and show love as You would to people around me. Please help me Lord to do right in Jesus’ name.

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When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]