She was alone, a widow with little family. She had little money, and she had cancer. The treatments left her bald, ashamed, afraid, and embarrassed to be seen in public.

A Christian woman in her congregation wanted to help. She felt a real “tug” to do something for her. What could she do without causing her more embarrassment?

Days went by, and the feeling to do something became stronger. She just had to find a way to show compassion for this lady.

Do you ever feel a “tug” to do something? What happens when you get that feeling? Do you act on it, or do you ignore it?

I’m not talking about some miraculous vision or being awakened with some sort of voice in the night telling you to do something. I am talking about seeing or hearing about a need and making a conscious effort to do something to help.

I am thinking more of a strong feeling that you personally should take care of the situation. It is that feeling of doing something just because it is the right thing to do.

Our Lord was such a perfect example of this. He would see a need and meet it. What drove Him was not obligation; it was a sense of seeing need and meeting that need.

On one occasion, Jesus had been off in a solitary place praying. Peter and the other disciples followed Him and informed Him that people were looking for Him.

A leper came to Jesus, knelt before Him, and told Him that if He wanted to, He could heal him. This leper obviously wasn’t sure Jesus would want to heal Him.

Mark says, “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean’” (Mark 1:41). Jesus had compassion and healed the leper because He felt the leper’s pain.

Another time a boy was possessed by an unclean spirit. It was so powerful that it often threw the boy into fire and into water, trying to destroy him. It caused him to have convulsions, rolling him around on the floor, and causing him to foam at the mouth.

The boy’s father begged Jesus to have compassion on him and help him. Jesus commanded the spirit to come out, and it did (Mark 9:14-29).

As Jesus traveled, the crowds grew. They wanted to see His miracles, and they wanted to be healed. Because they followed Him from place to place, there were times when someone had a need. In the story in Matthew 14, a large crowd was caught at mealtime with no food. The disciples wanted Jesus to send them away so they could buy food in the city, but Jesus didn’t do that.

Matthew says He was moved with compassion toward the people. He healed their sick, and then He fed them. He just couldn’t let them leave because He cared.

So back to that “feeling” I mentioned. Do you see a hungry man and have a feeling you should buy him a meal? Do you see a family stopped on the side of the road with a flat and have a feeling you should stop? Do you see a sad person sitting alone and have a feeling you should speak to them? Does a visitor come to the worship service, and you have a feeling you should welcome them? Do you see your enemy in trouble and have a feeling you should help him? Do you see a lost soul and have a feeling you should talk to him about his unsaved condition?

The answers to those questions are found in two verses. The first is found in First Peter 3:8. “All of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

The second scripture is found in Romans 12. Paul says, Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (verses 9-13).

The next time you get that “tug” to do good, do it. God will bless you for it. Compassion is a gift. It comes from God. Be like Jesus and have compassion for those with whom you come in contact every day.

By the way, the Christian lady called the widow, explained what she had in mind, and convinced her to allow her to help. This lady bought the widow with cancer a wig. For the duration of her treatments and in her recovery period, she was able to wear the wig and no longer be ashamed of the way she looked.

Sandra Oliver