We hear of men and women who serve the sick, the disabled, and the mentally ill. Hospice cares for the dying, as do many individuals. They commit hundreds of hours in secret sacrifice - buying groceries, cleaning dishes, listening to and holding the hands of suffering people clinging to the last months, days and hours of their lives. God honors such sacrifice and love given to His weak and hurting children.

My brother, Jim, and his wife, Sue, exhibit these attributes. Recently Jim 'rescued' a strong, hard-working, middle aged man who suffered a devastating heart attack. He brought him from out of state to live, rest and recover in his own home. Sue frequently flies to Florida to keep company with, to feed, to bathe and to bless her frail and completely dependent elder sister. This is not unusual for Jim and Sue, who for years have poured TST (time, sweat and treasure) into many whose cups were empty and whose hearts thirsted for springs of refreshment. I see and am humbled. God sees what is done in secret, and remembers.

The price of such sacrifice is very high. For most, the only reward is the Savior’s kind and knowing nod as most of their precious work is performed beyond the notice of men.
It occurs to me that while Jesus exhorted and counted as praiseworthy clothing the naked, visiting prisoners, and feeding the hungry, He did not train His disciples in these services.

Most of His instruction and modeling consisted of displaying the heart and will of the Father by literally healing sick people, delivering them from demonic torment and preaching the good news that the kingdom of heaven has come to them with incomparable power.

Jesus taught them to pray, Thy Kingdom come to earth as it is in Heaven. Caring folks in all countries throughout the world extend kindness and sacrificial care to their fellowman. While men and women of faith may outnumber unbelievers who administer such care, such laudable behavior is not unique to Christians.

Unique to disciples of Jesus Christ as regards sick, bound, and dying humanity is the display of God's compassion through the present exertion of the powers of the age to come, which saves the suffering one in the here and now.

Jesus in no way discouraged helping the afflicted in ways humanly possible. But the gospel by it's nature exceeds all human possibility. It begins where human ability stops.
Why are so many ’disciples’ so unwilling to enter into the life (style) commanded by Christ? More directly, why are you personally not in fierce pursuit of a living faith characterized by actions beyond those of ordinary men?

If such high regard is placed on those who give so much of themselves to comfort men in their sickness and through to their death, what of those who likewise comfort - but go further. Forsaking self (their own lives) and merging with the Spirit and heart of Jesus, they pray as He taught us, until His own compassion and power are released through them to the suffering one. Now the sickness, bondage, and death succumb to health, freedom, and life.

It's not that the disciple makes that much more of a sacrifice in caring for suffering ones. (Required practical care ought not be omitted or despised.) It has to do with the Spirit and power to which he is united, and what he believes is possible.

If one is willing to give so much of him or herself to help others, why not pay whatever the cost to align with that compassionate salvation Jesus gave, and commanded us to give? - the compassion that brings Heaven to earth.