Here in Houston we have been through Hurricane Harvey. For some of us, the hurricane has passed. We are dry and getting on with our lives.
But for several in our congregation they are still in various stages of dealing with the after effects of the storm. They are dealing with minor to major flood losses. They still need our help to one extent or another. So, we cannot just move on with our lives just yet.
More than that another hurricane, Irma, is raging the Caribbean and a threat to the islands and the mainland of the United States. If Hurricane Irma was not enough to worry about, we also have Hurricane Jose building up steam. While Jose is a long ways out, it is a threat of which it would wise to be mindful.
If hurricanes were not enough to worry about, we also have wildfires raging in Montana and Idaho. As of today, about 118,000 acres have been blackened. This pushes the current wildfire into the category of a mega-fire. Wildfires are not only being battled in Montana, but in California and in the Province of Victoria in Canada.
For us living in Houston, we’ve got our problems to worry about so who cares about disasters going on in other areas?
My point is we should care about suffering and loss going on elsewhere even if we did not suffer loss from Harvey.
From my perspective going through the experience of Hurricane Harvey heightened my sense of empathy and compassion for those going through disasters in faraway locations. Suffering faraway may not impact me directly, but I understand a little bit better what they are going through. Frankly, I don’t want anyone to go through a Harvey.
We have the perfect example of Jesus Christ in regard to man’s suffering. Jesus is far from the suffering that goes on all around this globe and as a spirit being why should He care? Thankfully, He does care and cared enough to become a human being in order to better understand the suffering that goes with being a human being.
Paul wrote of Christ’s experience in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need.”
Jesus Christ through His human experience understands the ups and downs of human life. He can sympathize with the weakness of mankind and extend mercy and grace to mankind even if they don’t deserve it.
We live in a time when there are a multitude of disasters unfolding or about to unfold. We know what it is to suffer through a disaster. Hopefully, our experience has helped us to be more sympathetic toward those who are suffering.
My hope and prayer is that God would be merciful toward those who could be impacted by the hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. If we cannot help directly, we all have the opportunity to go before the throne of grace to beseech God to help those who are in fear and suffering.
Enjoy the Sabbath rest and pray that all will be able to enjoy the rest that God provides soon.
Gary Smith
Friday, September 8, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
And When He Saw Him, He Had Compassion
As one looks at Houston on Friday, September 1, 2017, it is a remarkably different condition compared to the previous Friday. Since Hurricane Harvey came our way trillions of gallons of water have fallen upon Houston and areas east of Houston.
We see on our televisions the vast destruction of flooded homes and people suffering in despair as they cope with the loss of all they own.
Clearly, Houston is down. What is heartening is that people in the community and surrounding communities have risen to the occasion to help those who are down at this time. The attitude of sacrifice and service is heartening to all of us.
At the same time, we have the opposite example of taking advantage of the situation for personal gain or to kick those who are down. As you think of those involved in looting or running scams, those involved in these actions have come to have a predatory nature. They see people forced from their homes by the flooding as an opportunity to take advantage of their plight. Instead of seeing their neighbor in a downtrodden condition and in need of help, they see them as easy prey.
Not only do we see some looting taking place, but we also have those who make truly insensitive statements. One such statement was made on the cover of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The cover reads “God Exists! He Drowned All the Neo-Nazis of Texas.” The words accompany an
illustration showing swastika flags and arms raised in a Nazi salute -- all submerged in water, the New York Post reports. Instead of compassionate words, those at the magazine have chosen to kick those who are down.
While we see looting and scamming and harsh words, we also see people who are putting on display that they care for their fellow men and women. They are serving, sacrificing, and giving because they saw their neighbor in need.
Christ explained for us the model we are to follow in Luke 10:30-36. In this teaching about who constitutes a neighbor, Christ begins his story with the heartless thieves assaulting a traveler and leaving him wounded along the road. We then have a priest and a Levite who see the wounded man and ignore his plight. It is the Samaritan who sees the helpless condition of the injured man and intervenes to help.
We know this as the story of the Good Samaritan and it is an example for us. What was the motivation of the Samaritan? The answer is found in Luke 10:33, “But a certain Samaritan,
as he journeyed, came where he was. w”
This is a quality that we must develop as we grow to the maturity of Jesus Christ. It was a fundamental quality displayed by Jesus Christ throughout his ministry, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
The tragedy that has unfolded with Hurricane Harvey is not over. The needs of those who have suffered loss will be around for a while. As Good Samaritans, when we see a need in our community, we have the opportunity to show compassion to those in need. Our helping those in need can be a group effort by the local congregation, but it can also be individual displays of compassion and service to those in our community.
A good Sabbath to everyone,
Gary Smith
We see on our televisions the vast destruction of flooded homes and people suffering in despair as they cope with the loss of all they own.
Clearly, Houston is down. What is heartening is that people in the community and surrounding communities have risen to the occasion to help those who are down at this time. The attitude of sacrifice and service is heartening to all of us.
At the same time, we have the opposite example of taking advantage of the situation for personal gain or to kick those who are down. As you think of those involved in looting or running scams, those involved in these actions have come to have a predatory nature. They see people forced from their homes by the flooding as an opportunity to take advantage of their plight. Instead of seeing their neighbor in a downtrodden condition and in need of help, they see them as easy prey.
Not only do we see some looting taking place, but we also have those who make truly insensitive statements. One such statement was made on the cover of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The cover reads “God Exists! He Drowned All the Neo-Nazis of Texas.” The words accompany an
illustration showing swastika flags and arms raised in a Nazi salute -- all submerged in water, the New York Post reports. Instead of compassionate words, those at the magazine have chosen to kick those who are down.
While we see looting and scamming and harsh words, we also see people who are putting on display that they care for their fellow men and women. They are serving, sacrificing, and giving because they saw their neighbor in need.
Christ explained for us the model we are to follow in Luke 10:30-36. In this teaching about who constitutes a neighbor, Christ begins his story with the heartless thieves assaulting a traveler and leaving him wounded along the road. We then have a priest and a Levite who see the wounded man and ignore his plight. It is the Samaritan who sees the helpless condition of the injured man and intervenes to help.
We know this as the story of the Good Samaritan and it is an example for us. What was the motivation of the Samaritan? The answer is found in Luke 10:33, “But a certain Samaritan,
as he journeyed, came where he was. w”
This is a quality that we must develop as we grow to the maturity of Jesus Christ. It was a fundamental quality displayed by Jesus Christ throughout his ministry, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
The tragedy that has unfolded with Hurricane Harvey is not over. The needs of those who have suffered loss will be around for a while. As Good Samaritans, when we see a need in our community, we have the opportunity to show compassion to those in need. Our helping those in need can be a group effort by the local congregation, but it can also be individual displays of compassion and service to those in our community.
A good Sabbath to everyone,
Gary Smith
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