When People Get Our Attention

Romans 5:5b: . . . the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

When needy people get the attention of believers, I believe those believers should at least pray for the needy ones and, whenever possible, to meet those needs. God is sovereign. I believe that when He wants us to pray for someone or love them or meet some need of theirs, He will call our attention to them and to their need. We learn about the needs of others when we are asked to pray for them. When we see an ambulance or fire truck and hear their sirens, there are obviously some folk who need prayer, both the victims and the responding police and firemen. When we see that accidents have happened or fires beginning, we should quickly pray, call for appropriate help and do what we can. We should also pray for those who are delayed by traffic accidents. When we are witnesses to reckless driving or to people obviously sinning, we should pray for them and their victims. The most important prayers we can pray are for those who seem to be lost and on their way to Hell. If we have the love of God in our hearts, we will love needy people and we will not be apathetic toward their needs. We will be good Samaritans and we will feel guilt when we have neglected to help someone when we could have.

1 John 3:17: But whoso hath this world*s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Luke 10:27: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

I occasionally have heard people say that all they could do was to pray for someone as if that wasn*t very much. Praying for people whose needs we cannot meet is often the first thing, the best thing and the most powerful thing we can do. The best and most wonderful prayers we pray are unselfish prayers for others. It might even help us by making prayer more of a habit.

Luke 19:17: And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

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