What Can I Do To Help? – Don’t Be Afraid Part 7

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Isaiah 1:17; Luke 3:11; 1 John 4:18-19

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. (Isaiah 1:17 NLT) If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry. (Luke 3:11 NLT) 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear…19 We love each other because he loved us first. (1 John 4:18-19 NLT) The best answer to the “How can I help?” question comes from a message Pastor Steve Mickel gave recently: “Do what love requires!” As Spirit-guided followers of Jesus, we can prayerfully face each day’s new information, new guidelines, new restrictions and simply ask, “Father, what does love require of me today?” What’s Not needed: Panicking, blaming somebody, irresponsibly risking infecting others, attacking others on social media, fear-mongering. As I mentioned earlier in this series, when the Fear response of Flight or Fight takes over our brains, we think selfish thoughts, we make selfish decisions, and we take selfish actions. This is how people trample others when fleeing a burning building. But when we slow down and let the higher part of our brain get in on the action, we can think better thoughts. We can reason and be rational. We can think caringly, compassionately, and helpfully. What is Needed: Calm people, Prayerful people, Kind people, Caring and serving people, Generous people. And people who will share a roll or two of toilet paper! One of the best things we can do for ourselves when we’re facing challenges is to find ways to help someone else. Here are some things, in no particular order, that you can do to help. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list, but an idea prompter.
• If you are lower risk, do shopping, pick up prescriptions for high risk folks.
• Emails, phone calls, text messages, video calls to people who are at home alone.
• Donate to foodbanks, donate to homeless shelters and ministries.
• Contact your church to see what initiatives you could participate in.
• I’ve seen posts on Facebook and on Nextdoor by people offering to shop, pick up prescriptions, deliver food, even share a couple rolls of toilet paper. “If you’ll look for the helpers, you’ll know there’s hope! – Mr. Rogers” (click to view)

Prayer: Father, This is all so very new to us! We don’t know what’s coming from one moment to another! Keep us close to you during this time we’re being distanced from each other. May your love in us and through us drive out all fear. In Jesus’ Name.

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