We
are the Hands and Feet of Jesus
By
Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service
GROVE, OK (ANS) -- “When God’s people are
in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” --
Romans 12:13 (NLT).
Newspaper photos, social media posts and live
TV coverage depicted the devastation. Those viewing the destruction left in the
wake of Hurricane Harvey could only imagine what the Texas victims were
experiencing. For those of us who have experienced the aftermath of a
hurricane, the reality is familiar.
However, anyone who
has either viewed or experienced a disaster like this is familiar with the sacrifices
of those who respond to the call for help. As responders poured into the
southeastern Texas areas hardest hit, I marveled once again, not only at the
sight of trained rescue workers, but the volunteers who leave their jobs, homes
and family to provide assistance to those affected by the flooding.
Stories continue to
reveal those moments when all hope seemed lost. Then, someone who refused to
give up, showed up and answered the call for help.
I listened to TV
coverage as victims and rescuers were interviewed. One man, a volunteer
rescuer, paraphrased 1 John 3:17, which states, “If anyone has material
possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how
can the love of God be in that person?”
Looking out for the
needs of others is a constant theme and reminder for us throughout scripture.
Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but
also the interests of others.”
At times like
these, I wonder why it takes a disaster to bring people of all races, religions
and backgrounds together. Helping others was what Jesus did on a daily basis.
He was never too busy or too tired to answer a cry for help, whether Jew or
Gentile.
In the aftermath of
this emergency, I’ve also been touched by the outpouring of love from children
across the nation. Youngsters from as far north as Maine and as far south as
Florida have raised thousands for the disaster relief through lemonade stands
and bake sales.
We become the hands and feet of Jesus when we
reach out to those in need. Well-known Bible teacher and author Beth Moore
tweeted the following during the rescue efforts: “Right now in Houston, Texas
the hands of Jesus have wet vacs and saws in them and
the feet of Jesus are walking in water wearing rubber boots.”
St. Teresa of Avila
once wrote the following: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet
on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on
this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the
hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are
the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth
but yours.”
Will you be the
hands and feet of Jesus?
(As I wrote this
column, Hurricane Irma was headed to Florida. Will we witness the hands and
feet of Jesus in the aftermath?)