Author Unknown<\/p>\n
The prophet Isaiah, declared by the inspiration of God, “They helped everyone his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage<\/em>” (Isaiah 41:6).<\/p>\n In times of crisis, especially, cries for help are frequently heard from every corner of the earth. Victims of floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters reach a point of desperation-a point in which they are powerless to help themselves-and out of necessity cry out, “Help me!” We read frequently of those who heroically witness an accident, and, at the risk of their own lives, rush in “where angels fear to tread.” It is encouraging when individuals show themselves willing to help the needy with such items as food and clothing. Sometimes, especially during times of warfare, weaker nations under siege will plead for help from other nations that are better equipped to meet their needs.<\/p>\n During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He frequently heard cries for help, and Jesus responded with compassion. Multitudes had nowhere else to turn. By His power alone, the blind were enabled to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. By His word, some who had lost loved ones in death had their grief allayed in seeing their loved ones brought back to life. Jesus revealed Himself as the divine Helper to deliver aid to the helpless. With His return from earth to the Heavenly Father, the church, as the spiritual body of Christ, is to view itself as Christ’s agent of rescue for mankind. As Christians, we echo the spirit of Christ when we come to the aid of others. Paul, writing to the saints at Galatia, urged, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith<\/em>” (Galatians 6:9-10). One observed that we are to render kindness for the same reason a flower blooms-we were made for that purpose. Certainly, if you assist in meeting others’ needs, all paths lead to the door of the helpful.<\/p>\n While assisting others in their physical and material needs or offering words of encouragement is Christ-like, the greatest help we are capable of is sharing the good news of Christ. Paul, having a vision of a man pleading, “Come over into Macedonia and help us,<\/em>” concluded, “that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel (good news) unto them<\/em>” (Acts 16:9-10). Is that not the main reason we are here? We are called to be rescuers of those in the bondage of sin that they may be set free by Christ. Whatever the need you find in your world today, may you choose to be-and may God enable you to be-a helper of others. May it be said of us all: “They helped.”<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Author Unknown The prophet Isaiah, declared by the inspiration of God, “They helped everyone his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage” (Isaiah 41:6). In times of crisis, especially, cries for help are frequently heard from every corner of the earth. Victims of floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters reach…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1685],"class_list":["post-88966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-help"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31493,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-isaiah-5417-apply-to-us-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":0},"title":"Does Isaiah 54:17 apply to us today?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does Isaiah 54:17 apply to us today? I hear people use it a lot. Thanks. Answer: \"'In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. If anyone fiercely assails you it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23332,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-the-poor-be-helped-if-it-makes-our-life-harder\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":1},"title":"Should the poor be helped if it makes our life harder?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 10, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a penchant for helping the poor. But I came across an article titled \"Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor\" and it was really interesting. Here is an excerpt: \"If we divide the world crudely into rich nations and poor nations, two thirds of them are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":96581,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/zion-the-city-of-the-great-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":2},"title":"Zion, the City of the Great King","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bob Hutto via\u00a0Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014 When David consolidated his reign over both Judah and Israel, he and his men took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, including the fortress at Zion. David built his palace there and moved his capital from Hebron. From that time forward,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30282,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-so-much-for-your-help-and-advice\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":3},"title":"Thank you so much for your help and advice","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 21, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thank you so much for your help and advice.\u00a0 I know I haven't met you in person, but I feel much trust in you for the help you've provided to me.\u00a0 So much praise for your site.\u00a0 With the Internet being the way it is, it's hard to find\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54982,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-my-brothers-keeper\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":4},"title":"Am I My Brother\u2019s Keeper?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 6, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steven Harper You may be familiar with the story in which the title for today's\u00a0article was spoken,\u00a0and probably just as familiar with its popular usage today. In the Bible story, Cain had killed his brother Abel and God said to Cain,\u00a0\"Where is Abel your brother?\"\u00a0(Genesis 4:9). Cain's reply was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5380,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-the-prophecies-in-isaiah-prove-that-the-laws-of-uncleanness-are-still-in-effect\/","url_meta":{"origin":88966,"position":5},"title":"Do the prophecies in Isaiah prove that the laws of uncleanness are still in effect?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I'm a Christian part of the Lord's body (the church of Christ) and I have a question about unclean meats. 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