Everyone Needs Compassion
How many times a day do we receive grace?
How many times a day does God look at us with compassion and mercy?
The answer is an emphatic…Unending!
We can look throughout the Bible and see God’s compassion in the Old Testament and Christ’s compassion in the New Testament. Through Christ, we can see a living example of what compassion is supposed to look like.
God has worked on my heart to be more compassionate. What better way to show the love Christ to others then to be compassionate towards everyone? Not just the people that are easy to get along with, but those we don’t always see eye to eye with.
Ephesians 4:32 says
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
We have a tendency to be quick to judge and condemn just because someone isn’t living the way we are living or doing the things we are doing. Through all of the negativity, political differences and racial tensions that seem to divide our country; is it possible we can let compassion and the love of Christ shine through what we say and do? Let’s put those things aside and be compassionate to all.
1 Peter 3:8 tells us to
…be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, compassionate and humble.
One of God’s challenges for us today- and every day- is to love one another and show compassion to those hurting and in need.
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Discovering Jesus, the Real Deal
Christianity isn’t a religion as much as it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The evidence of the Bible being true, from an archaeological standpoint, is another way one can know Christianity is real. Even as recent as the last decade, locations (and types of destruction of Biblical cities/Biblical events) have been discovered and unearthed.
A few of many examples:
The walls of Jericho falling in- instead of out- when God’s people marched on the city and the walls tumbled down. Based on the type of wall construction, it was a miracle for them to fall in (not out) at that very moment in history.
Prophecy fulfilled as God used the prophets of the Old Testament to predict hundreds of events that would take place in the future… and some of them thousands of years later. The most notable prophecies are about Jesus. It was foretold where he would be born, what family line, how he would die, and how he would be raised from the dead in three days. Powerful stuff!
Lastly, and maybe most convincing to others that know us, are changed lives.
When the Holy Spirit draws us, repentance takes place and we submit to God’s Lordship over our lives. We accept Jesus as our personal savior; this is our new birth and call to action to work out the salvation that God, through Jesus, has worked into us.
An important part of that call to action is being prepared to tell your story.
God will use your story powerfully as you share how Jesus is the real deal in your life.
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Prayers for Our Children (With a Little Help From Paul)
That God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Him.(vs. 17)That the eyes of their hearts would be opened so that they’d know the hope of His calling of them.(vs. 18)That they’d know the surpassing greatness of His power toward those who believe in Him.(vs. 19)That these things are done in their lives by the same power and strength that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. (vs. 19 – 20)
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I’m So Busy!
How many times have we used these statements?
My life is so hectic!
The Lord has been speaking to me lately about how to use my time more wisely. It seems our time is consumed by many things in our everyday life; running kids to soccer practice or games, working on things around the house, personal appointments… oh, and let’s not forget about work.
We obviously have many things vying for our time. I know we should, and even need, to do these things.
The Lord is my strength and shield… my heart trusts in him and he helps me.
In the Bible, we read many stories where Jesus made time for those in need-
whatever and whenever the need might have been.
Jesus took time to…
Heal (Mark 5:21 – 40)
God does not call people as a favor, but because He has something for them to do.
What is God calling me to do today? What is God calling you to do today?
When the Lord speaks to us about something he wants us to do, let’s take time to say:
Lord, use me in whatever way you want.
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In the Eye of the Storm
In my life currently, God has used Ryan Stevenson’s song “In the Eye of the Storm” to help me through a very difficult situation. Not only am I experiencing some trying times, but our country too, along with those severely impacted by hurricanes and natural disasters.
The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life of – whom shall I be afraid?
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soulYou alone are the anchor, when my sails are tornYour love surrounds me in the eye of the storm
Are you experiencing troubled times or difficult situations today?
He is our light and salvation…our stronghold in the storm.
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Defining Truth
These days, we often hear statements like “Truth is what I define it to be.”
So how do we define truth? Not by the world’s standards,
what our friends say or what’s fed to us by the media.
Only by the Word of God.
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