Within the church of Jesus Christ, within the fold, we are to care for one another. Christ taught this from the beginning and restated it often.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

There are other instances in the scriptures where the Lord was insistent that we care for one another. We are even to treat our enemies well. For example, in Romans 12:20 we read:

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:...

If we are to treat our enemies in such fashion, how are we to treat those who are simply our sisters within the fold of the gospel? How would or could we approach this assignment, if such thoughts as scriptures like these run through our minds?

For example, we often will quote the good Samaritan. He indeed loved his enemy by tending to his enemy's wounds, taking him to comfort, and providing food and water for drink.

As we work with our sisters, do we do the same? Are there emotional wounds we might not be aware of, but if we were more in tune we could at least sense? Is there comfort we can bring her, if we spent just a bit more time thinking of her? Does she have a literal need for food and drink to care for her family?

With just a bit more effort and perhaps just a bit more thought, we could bring ourselves perhaps to a higher standard with our divine callings of "visiting teachers." For indeed it is a divine calling to serve our sisters with the same tender care and compassion the Lord would extend to us.

Warmly,

C.S. Bezas


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