I have a friend who wrote and reminded me how God’s hand moves in simple and blessed ways when His people answer the call to react to the needs that arise around them. His comments came after reading these devotionals and watching so many of our readers initiate loving action when individual needs arise, especially in this season of hurricane crisis. “It is an encouragement that what we say and what we believe has legs,” he wrote, “lots of legs, because there are lots of us. This is when the church transcends massive government programs, when Christians simply act as Christians.”

There’s nothing wrong with organizations, but this is beyond organizing. There’s nothing wrong with programs but this is beyond programming. There is nothing wrong with control, but this is beyond any person’s control. This falls squarely in the lap of the Holy Spirit moving individuals to do things. This is the church being the church -- individual Christians acting as Christ would have us act as His followers in the world. When crisis arises, people always respond, and Christians are no different.

Crisis also pulls us together and this is where Christians can find a commonality with all people and faiths, working side by side for the benefit of those who are suffering. It’s arrogant to think that Christians are the only ones who know how to give, but it is perfectly fine to think that Christians have something to give their fellow-workers as well – a strength that comes from knowing Christ is the source of our purpose and our compassion.

For believers, there is a reason to care beyond the obvious It-may-be-my-turn-next-time thinking. Through Christ’s death on the cross, God has given a value to all human beings that transcends human reasoning. We are more than just a part of the human family; we are, all of us, made in God’s image, so when anyone of us is suffering an indignity, God is suffering an indignity. We have God’s image to uphold. The stakes are high.

But so are the opportunities. I’m sure even victims of the recent storms are having a unique ministry to other victims and workers who aid them, as they display, in their attitude and perseverance, the values of a world beyond this one. Crisis is always a time for faith to rise to the surface. As my friend put it: “The solution is to go one on one, sharing in Gods abundance: that is the stuff of being a Christian.”

May God open our eyes to the needs around us. What each one of us does is vital to the cause.