Tag: compassion

The Get-Along Gang

1 Peter 3:8-13

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

“It Is Written…”

2 Timothy 3

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

According to Dr Kent Hovind, the Bible can be defined as, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. A select few men, were chosen and inspired by the Spirit of God, to record specific events of history, so that man could learn the knowledge of God, and gain an understanding of His purposes. The purpose of reading scripture is to study, meditate on, understand, then apply biblical knowledge to our daily lives. The more we learn about God’s word, the better equipped we’ll be to handle the issues of life. Take time daily to read and study God’s word, and allow it to strengthen your faith in Him.

Solitude On Hold

Matthew 14:1-21

Losing someone you love, is never an easy thing to handle. In fact, many who’ve lost loved ones have given in to sadness and depression, so much to the point they’ve allowed idleness and stagnation to dominate their days. While there are numerous ways people cope with death, nothing is ever certain to bring joy to a heavy heart. Personally, when dealing with losing someone close, I often try to keep myself busy with work, or other things that occupy the time. This is because, the longer I sit idle, the more my thoughts will run rampant over things I wish I had said or done differently, while my loved one still lived.

After reading the lesson text, I was brought to tears while recognizing how Jesus dealt with losing someone, just as many of us do today. When the disciples brought word to Jesus, that his cousin John the Baptist had been killed, He sought the quickest way to get away from everyone. Jesus, the Son of the true and living God, sought solitude after the news of John. Being all powerful, and the creator of all things, how was Jesus subject to like passions as we are? This is proof, our Savior understands our hurts, pains, and struggles. He feels what we feel, and copes in ways we seek as well.

Unfortunately, when trying to distance Himself from people, many heard where He had fled, then followed Him on foot, out of many cities. Jesus was hurting, and needed time to heal, but after seeing the great multitude that followed, He was moved with compassion toward them. Have you ever been in a situation, when your heart was beyond heavy, yet you had compassion on someone else? Jesus was truly God in the flesh, and didn’t allow His present suffering, to forfeit blessing those who diligently sought Him.

As the story continues, Jesus fed over 5,000 people from two fish, and five loaves of bread. When we go through seasons of hurt, pain, and shame, we must be strong, and keep our focus, because God may decide to use us, to help someone else get through their hard season. Jesus is a loving and caring person, so remember, when you’re suffering, He’s moved with compassion for you too.

Contrasting Standards

Romans 12:9-19

  The Church:                                     The World:
Genuine love                               Hypocritical love
Abhors evil                                  Embraces evil
Clings to good                            Shuns good
Cares for others                        Despises others
Sound in business                     Lazy in business
Excited in righteousness          Excited in selfishness
Hopeful                                        Hopeless
Patient in hard times                 Frantic in hard times
Prayerful                                      Wishful
Gives generously                       Gives sparingly
Hospitable                                   Unfriendly
Bless enemies                            Curse enemies
Empathetic and sympathetic    Cold and heartless
Of the same mind                      Divisive
Humble                                        Arrogant
Godly wisdom                            Worldly wisdom
Recompense good for evil  Recompense evil for evil
Honest                                         Insincere
Peaceful                                     Unruly
Forgiving                                     Vengeful

In life, we honor our employees so they will perform better, our bosses so they’ll pay us consistently, and those with the power of influence, so they’ll work for us and not against us, but we must also honor people, because they have been created in the image of the same God we live to please. Living to please others isn’t always an easy thing to do, but loving for real involves effort and concentration. God not only takes note of how we treat our brothers and sisters, but more so how we treat those who have yet to surrender their hearts to Him.

The Hard Side Of Love

3 John 1:9-12

How do you hug a porcupine, without getting poked with its pointy needles? It’s virtually impossible to come away injury-free when dealing with a porcupine, because he’s primed and always ready to poke anyone who gets too close. There are men and women in churches around the world, who are similar to porcupines. Rather than get along with brethren, they prefer to pick and poke at all that get too close,  who try and correct their ways. The children of God were called to live by godly standards, and that includes behaving with the fruit of the Spirit, on a consistent basis, but how do you handle a person who seeks only to put themselves before others, and slander those who call them out for their wrongdoing? In the same way it’s difficult to hug a porcupine, it’s even more difficult to love an unruly church member. The flesh side of a man desires to slap good sense into those who refuse to humble themselves before the mighty hand of God, but the Spirit won’t allow them to give in to temptation. Instead, we are to continue to show love to those who are prideful and unruly, while making sure the body of believers isn’t affected by their evil doings. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV)

“What’s love got to do with it? Everything!” – Ell

Gratitude

Luke 17:11-19

What are you thankful for? Think for a moment, of all the experiences you’ve had thus far in life; all the good, bad, and even ugly ones. After all the struggles, hard times, and suffering, how did you respond, when God finally healed you from a sickness or disease, made your crooked places straight, or kept you safe in troublesome times? What joy it brings to one’s soul, when God steps into an unfavorable situation, and makes things work for your good! Even though many of us presently suffer, and go through trials, knowing that God can, and will deliver us, should be enough to keep us moving forward. Never take for granted, the blessings of the Lord, because doing so proves what’s really in one’s heart.

God loves our praise, not only after He blesses us, but when we do it willingly, and consistently. Our text gives an example of one who was conscious enough to acknowledge the One responsible for delivering him from an extremely unfavorable situation. According to Christianity.com, Leprosy was the scourge of the ancient world. Nothing evoked more fear, more dread, or more revulsion than the sight of these walking dead. That is what a leper was called, a walking dead man. The smell of his decaying flesh would announce his coming long before the tattered scraps of his clothing would be seen, or his raspy “Unclean! Unclean!” announcement he was required to declare, could be heard. The stumbling shuffle of toeless feet, the wandering of sightless eyes and the moan of a cheek less mouth, all pointed to Leprosy, this unseen attacker that slowly destroyed human bodies, and made the individual an untouchable to society.

Can you imagine being in a position where everyone who looks at you, considers you “dead” to society? I haven’t had an experience like the ten lepers in our text, but I’m certain when Jesus came to town, they were all prepared to throw out a lifeline for an immediate miracle.

After the ten lepers heard Jesus was in town they met Him at a distance, then lifted up their voices together and cried out for mercy. What a scene that must have been! Ten men, shunned from society, yet banned together by their shared struggle, were able to come to Jesus in unity, to seek deliverance. It’s amazing how healthy church folk can’t even get along to unite in prayer, let alone seek God for a miracle. But, these men were tired of their situation, and desired to be healed of their horrible disease.

Jesus, spoke a word, the men obeyed, and were instantly healed. Wow! Of all the ten lepers who were healed, only one returned to give Jesus an “I Can’t Believe What Just Happened Praise”! Why didn’t all the men return to thank Jesus for doing something in their lives that no one else could have done? That one, humble Samaritan, one who was considered a half-breed, and shunned by other nations, was grateful for his life-changing experience, and would not take another step forward, until he gave thanks to Jesus. How will you respond when God finally delivers you?

“He died for me… I’ll live for Him.” – Ell

Are You Religious?

Deuteronomy 24:17-22

What is religion? Is it clothing ourselves in fine apparel, and speaking soothing words to please itching ears? Could religion be going to church consistently; singing, shouting, and giving offerings to God? Perhaps religion is claiming a title like Christian, but not necessarily fulfilling what the title means; only wearing the title to prove you are religious in the eyes of others. Hmmmm… lemme think; what else could religion be…? Ohhhh I got it! Maybe religion is exercising gifts like speaking in tongues, or prophesying. That’s it, isn’t it? Despite what the world has surmised religion to be, it is far from the previous examples I listed.

Religion is not a title, nor any act of selfishness. Instead, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 KJV). Religion is not a title, but good works, coupled with consistent holy living. While no man is good, except the Father, God allows us the opportunity to share His love with others by exhibiting acts of compassion, kindness, and selflessness. Many say they love God, and are “religious”, yet rarely would they stop to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Life is tough for everyone, more so for strangers, widows, and those who have no father. Special attention is required for such persons, and those who are in Christ should always be ready to assist them at a moment’s notice.

In our text, God established laws, by which His people were to adhere to, concerning caring for the needs of the less fortunate. The people were required to gather enough resources for themselves and their family, then leave the leftovers to passersby who may not be capable of providing for themselves. This act is love at it’s best! When you show someone compassion, and tend to their need (without seeking glory for yourself) not only does the person you helped have a better life, but God will bless you in return. The phrase, “it’s a blessing to be a blessing” stems from this truth.

Oftentimes, those who have great needs are shunned away by men who can easily satisfy their deficit, but pride and arrogance consumes them to the point they only show concern for their own needs, rather than those who suffer lack. Prove your religion, not by spewing vain words or claiming titles, but by performing consistent good works, then God will make sure your cup will always run over, and never run dry.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Have A Heart

Luke 11:5-13

Why are people so mean these days? Have you thought about that lately? I’m not too sure how things went on back in the olden days, but from my experiences growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, men showed a bit more respect for one another, than they do today. Fathers taught their sons proper work ethics, and how to be kind and courteous to women, and mothers would show their daughters the ways of womanhood. Far gone are the days of “yes sir”, and “no ma’am”, because children aren’t being taught to respect their elders. Instead, are youth are being groomed by Disney and Nickelodeon, rather than good old fashioned wisdom, and Bible teachings. Old cartoons usually conveyed chivalry by showing a man laying down his coat over water, so a woman’s feet wouldn’t get wet, or by young boys holding doors open for elderly women. Those virtues are hardly seen today, because men have become selfish, and more self-centered than ever before.

In my 38 years of journeying on this planet, I’ve learned, the farther men drift away from God, the more inclined they are to entertain immoral, and unethical behaviors, but the closer they remain to the Father, the more apt they are to show love and kindness by default. Jesus taught that friends are to always be there for each other, even if it comes at a cost. When you say love someone, there will ALWAYS come opportunities for that love to be proven. Our text gives a few examples of the proper way to handle friends in need, and the importance of showing kindness to those in desperate situations. If I’m hungry, and come to a friend in the wee hours of the night for food, is it right for them to shun me away saying, “it’s too late”, or give me a bag of rocks? Not at all. Instead, they should make it top priority to see that my need is met, especially if they have more than enough to spare. This is especially relevant for the body of Christ. No brother, or sister joined to God, should ever deny a fellow believer assistance (within reason, obviously). Even if you can’t personally assist someone, the least you can do is help point them in a direction where help can be rendered.

If you claim to have the love of God residing in your heart, it should ALWAYS show in your actions. Remember to treat all men the way you desire to be treated, and love them with the same love God shows you every day.

Walk in love,

Ell

I Am Forgiven

Matthew 18:21-35

As a believer, it matters not how hard men try to hinder, or distract you from living holy, you must conduct godly behavior in all situations. Whether you are met with challenges at work, home, or even in the grocery store, Christians are expected to be holy always. Even more so than being holy, the body of Christ is expected to produce fruit that represent his character, on a consistent basis. Have you ever approached a tree that appeared ripe with fruit, but found it to be bare when you arrived? I have plenty of times. As a child, I would often collect fruit from trees in the neighbor’s yards, in my neighborhood. It was awfully disappointing to climb a tree that looked to be full of fruit from a distance, but had only leaves and wasps nests to offer.

God expects His children to not only look righteous on the outside, but to bring forth righteous fruit as well.  Even in the midst of storms and torrential weather, trees that are firmly planted in the ground are capable of withstanding those storms, and can continue to bring forth fruit during, and after the storms have passed. When the storms of life blow through our lives, we ought to be so firmly planted in God, until we are not affected by the distractions. We should continue to produce the fruit of holiness and righteousness, regardless of challenging seasons.

One of the toughest storms men face is, situations that call for forgiveness. Many people find it hard to forgive others, because they may still be experiencing hurt, or disappointment caused by the person seeking forgiveness. So, in order to forgive them from the heart, they’ll need time to digest the previous situation or circumstances, before they’ll be ready to forgive.

When Peter asked Jesus, how many times should he forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus replied, everytime! Who are we to withhold forgiveness from another, when Christ never hesitated to forgive us? When men come to us seeking forgiveness, this presents the ideal opportunity to produce the fruit of love, joy, and peace. It’s through forgiveness, that we were given another chance to enjoy the blessings and benefits God had prepared for us. So, the next time you have second thoughts about forgiving someone, think about where you’d be, if God never forgave you.

Walk in love,

Ell

God’s gracious compassion

Psalm 106:40-48

Have you ever heard of the doctrine, “once saved, always saved”? In other words, there are men and women who preach, the moment one gives their heart to God, they are forever joined to Him, and nothing can keep them from seeing the Father in everlasting peace. Does that ring a bell? I’ve heard men speak that phrase since my childhood years, but I never developed an opinion on it, until I matured in godliness.

God loves every man born into this world, especially those who come into the knowledge of His Word, and commit to His ways. The compassion of the Lord has been known to rain on the just, as well as the unjust, because He has no respect of persons. God also devised a predestined plan for every individual to carry out on the earth, but whether those plans are actually carried out, is based on one’s personal choice. When we choose to follow after the things of God, He will direct us in the ways we should go, but when we make a choice to follow our own path, we align ourselves with others who will eventually miss God’s mark, and be judged according to their disobedience.

In our text, God’s chosen people, the Israelites, put Him through an emotional roller coaster, in the same way an undisciplined child does to a loving parent, as they constantly went against His will. Despite all the miraculous and wondrous works God performed for the people, they willingly chose to delve into things He warned them to stay away from. “Many times did He deliver them; but they provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity” (vs. 43). For their continual disobedience, God allowed many unfortunate circumstances to overtake the people, in an effort to persuade them to turn away from all ungodly behaviors. As long as the people remained in their disobedience, they were never at peace, but when they cried out to God, He “regarded their affliction”. It’s important to note, God never went against the covenant He established with His people, but when they willingly did things contrary to their agreement, all promises were nullified, until repentance was in place.

The question remains, is “once saved, always saved” legit, according to Scripture? No, because if a person accepts Jesus as their savior, then willingly turns away from following after Him, they’ll be left to fend for themselves under their own wisdom, until they wholeheartedly turn back to God, and His gracious compassion. In natural life, it’s difficult to help a man who refuses assistance. In the same sense, God will withhold His hand from those who live outside of His covenant, until the moment they are ready to repent, then He’ll welcome them back to sit at His table.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 KJV).

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell