A young boy with braces up to his knees on both legs hobbled into a pet store. Noticing the difficulty he had in walking, the owner approached him and said in a kind voice, “How can I help you?”

“I want to buy the puppy in the window,” he said.

“But, son,” said the owner, “that puppy has problems. He has a crippled leg and will need someone who can take care of him.”

Pulling up the legs of his trousers he said, “I understand. I have the same problem. So no one will love him more or take care of him better than me.”

One fact that should fill our minds and hearts with hope and encouragement comes from Hebrews: “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses for He faced the same temptations we do, yet He was without sin.” 

Thank God for the fact that Jesus was as human as we are. We can take great comfort in knowing that He faced everything that we face: hunger, loneliness, abandonment, pain, sorrow, grief, temptation, rejection – even death. And yet He never gave in or gave up His faith in His Heavenly Father. Jesus proved the fact that we do not need to give in to temptation and sin. He is the only one who ever lived that was always faithful and obedient to the teachings of Scripture and lived a life of perfection and set an example for us to follow.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the example Your Son, our Savior, set for us to follow. When we face temptation, give us Your strength to stand firm and not sin. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin…

A world famous surgeon was being interviewed by a television reporter for a series on the advances being made in the medical profession. Coming to the last question, the reporter asked, “Tell me doctor, what is your greatest fear?”

After thinking for a moment, he replied, “That I may no longer feel the pains of my patients.”

For him, feeling was essential if he was to help others. It moved him as he performed surgery on those in need of healing.

Sympathy is meant to stir us to service, to help us see the needs of others and to move us into action. Without sympathy we would do little to help the least, the last and the lost.

Paul said, “Share each other’s troubles and problems.” Sympathy enables us to see the needs that others have and do something about them. It is the very foundation from which love and obedience to fulfill the commandments of Christ flow.

No Christian should ever feel that they are beyond the requirement of or excused from helping and praying for others. At all times and in all situations we are to be alert to the needs of others and respond to them as Jesus did.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we might see the things that You saw and be moved by the things that moved You and then do as You did in love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

WANTED: HAPPINESS MAKERS!

The Charlie Brown comic strip created as many questions as it did smiles. On one occasion Lucy and Charlie Brown were having a serious conversation about the meaning of life.

With a furrow on her brow Lucy asked Charlie, “Why were we put on earth?”

In his own simple way, Charlie responded, “To make others happy!”

“I don't think I'm making anyone very happy,” confessed Lucy, “and nobody is making me very happy, either!”

After a moment she shouted, “Somebody's not doing their job!”

Making others happy is not a primary responsibility of the Christian. But Peter does give us some good advice about our responsibilities as Christians and what we are to do to help others.

First we are to show sympathy – by being attentive to and meeting their needs. Secondly, we are to show love – treating others with the same kindness that we would show a brother or sister. Thirdly, we are to show tenderheartedness – to be sensitive and caring. Finally – we are to be humble – to put others first and always be a source of encouragement to others.

Prayer: We pray, Lord, that we will willingly accept our responsibilities to others and do our very best to minister to their needs. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.