Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries - Wednesday, 22 January 2014 "A Little Help, Please!"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries - Wednesday, 22 January 2014   "A Little Help, Please!"

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

Early on in my ministry I figured that older folks don't like to go out a lot when it's dark. This I discovered when our church began to offer afternoon Advent and Lenten services. The seniors loved it and turned out in force.

Now it is possible that some of them just didn't want to miss a favorite Wednesday evening television show. Me, I think they were being honest when they said, "I don't see so well when it's dark, and I'm not as sure on my feet as I used to be when I'm walking on snow or ice. Pastor, thanks for the service."

I'm not alone in discovering this fact about seniors.

Ligonier, Pennsylvania, has a pizza place called Fox's Pizza Den. Tom Wynkoop, the owner of the Den, has come to a similar conclusion about older folks. Indeed, it occurred to him that the bad weather the town had had was causing some serious inconveniences for the town's elderly.

So do you know what Wynkoop did? Go ahead; take a guess.

No, don't bother. You'll never get it.

What Wynkoop did was go public and say that his pizza delivery folk would pick up and deliver prescription medicine and other necessities for the town's elderly. In order to get this service all the folks had to do was buy, well, they didn't have to buy a thing. All they had to do was make a phone call and tell Wynkoop what they needed.

As Scripture encourages, Wynkoop had tried to do good to everyone.

Now I suppose those who have a pessimistic point of view will say he has gleaned a ton of goodwill and free advertising. No doubt that is true. If so, great! A fellow should be complimented for trying to do the right thing.

I wish there were more folks out there like good, old Tom. Indeed, I wish I was more like good, old Tom.

This really takes me to the point of this brief devotion. It occurs to me that we, who have experienced the Savior's love and enjoy His ongoing assistance, ought to try and reflect that care and compassion to others.

When we are afforded an opportunity to do good to someone, let us do so. Understand, I'm not encouraging you to spend thousands of dollars in doing good. I'm not asking you to go out and comb the countryside for opportunities to do good. I'm not even asking you to be heroic in the things you do; (although you certainly may do those things if you wish).

What I'm urging, what the Lord wants is this: when we are given a choice between doing good and doing nothing for others, let's choose the good.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, my Savior came into this world and did wondrous and miraculous things. I am not a miracle-worker. Even so, I do have the ability to do some things. When You give me a chance to help someone, Lord, let me see that chance and make use of it. In the Name of my Savior. Amen.

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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus

Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®

Lutheran Hour Ministries

660 Mason Ridge Center

St. Louis, MO 63141 United States

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