“Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?” 2 Corinthians 11:29

This verse has been on my heart for some time. In conversations with a few women who had gone through some tough times, they all said that during these difficult times they experienced a crisis in their faith. Though their individual crises were significantly different from one another, they all experienced pain and anguish of various kinds which affected their daily lives. Often as people share with me their trials and sufferings, I empathize with them and feel what Paul described in the verse above. My heart longs to help, to comfort, to encourage them not to lose hope. I want to dry the tears, to help ease the pain in their hearts, to urge them to press on to the throne of Grace where they can sit at the feet of the One who longs to hold them close to His heart, where there is joy and peace.

Paul identified with the suffering and feelings of helplessness a brother or sister who needs our help. If a brother or sister stumbles (in Greek, the word is actually “scandal”), our hearts should ache because of our zeal for the Lord. To feel this way requires that we be sensitive to our brothers and sisters in Messiah. If someone doesn’t come to a regular fellowship meeting or to a social gathering, we should express an interest and ask if they are well. If we notice we haven’t seen someone in a while, we should make an effort to find out why. The difference that a timely word of encouragement can make in a person’s life is enormous. We need to open our eyes to those around us and show a genuine interest. How can we wash each other’s feet if we don’t see their feet have become dirty from their exposure to the things of this world? It is so easy to go about in our daily lives and personal concerns without noticing that someone needs a smile, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on or to cry on, someone to pray with, someone who will wash their feet.

We need to pray that our eyes would not only be open, but that we would act on what we see. Sadly, there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing who actively seek to  harm the flock and devour the sheep and harm the flock. What do we do then? I believe our concern and responsibility should not only be for the local sheepfold we are in, for the sheep whom we know well, but for the entire flock. What about the sheep who are harmed by those who were supposed to protect them? What about the sheep who cry out, but no one listens to their cry? Or, even worse, what of those whose cry is heard, but others try to silence their cry for one reason or another?

It is easy to talk about helping the sheep, protecting them and doing all we can so the Bride of Messiah would be pure and holy. But, when the time comes and push comes to shove, are we willing to step up and actively support, strengthen, encourage and protect a brother or sister even if there is a personal cost to pay?

May God help us to open our eyes to our brethren who are hurting, so that our unity be truly characterised by love, by a genuine concern for them, by being there and providing encouragement in time of need. A gentle word and a helping hand will yield eternal benefits, beyond what we can ask or even think.