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12/8/02 - Holiday to Holy Day
As I drive around our
communities, our neighborhoods are awash in color. Some homes have lights
brightly beaming. Some have sleighs and reindeer on their roofs or in their
front yard. Some have manger scenes and lighted angels. Some have Frosty the
Snowman, Santa Claus and a host of other lighted figures around their yards.
Some of them have it all – Lights, Santa, Frosty, Baby Jesus, Angels. There
has been a synthesis of holiday themes – a blending of secular and religious.
The following editorial was
written by Neil W. Anderson, Editor of the Gospel Advocate, in the December
2002 volume.
“I don’t desire to be known as
the proverbial Scrooge but I have concerns during this holiday season with
what Christians do with the indescribable gift God has given us. We run the
risk of presenting God incarnate in the same light as Santa Claus – a nice,
harmless tradition to be rolled out once a year.
“David Lipscomb answered an
inquirer, ‘There is no authority for its (Christmas) observance ... indeed,
it is a misfortune to have a day of this kind observed religiously that is
not appointed by God. It has a tendency to destroy the distinction between
things human and divine. It is a sin to observe it as consecrated to God.’
“While there are some church
activities that may be appropriate at holidays, we must be careful not to
make holy days of holidays! Unfortunately, I read in many bulletins plans
for Christmas pageants, holiday cantatas and youth programs accentuating the
religious nature of Christmas. These activities as expressions of religious
holidays have no place in the Lord’s church. We must bring clarity to our
culture on biblical issues rather than joining in their confusion.”
When religious symbols and folk
symbols are blended together, the once clear line between them begins to
vanish. It has happened in the communities in which we live. It is happening
to the church in our community. When it happens to the church community, the
move to a religious holy day is not far behind. Let us not bow to culture,
but rather uphold God’s pattern for any and all religious observances. Until
next time…
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12/15/02
- Faith's Winter?
Have you looked at the
calendar lately? It happens this weekend. Many have been dreading it for
months. However, try as we may, we can’t prevent it. Yes, we can try to
ignore it, but it shows up anyway. We can even leave town hoping we’ll miss
it, but we won’t. We can pretend it won’t come, but it will. It will come. It
will be here this weekend. Winter is coming and you can’t stop it.
I know, winter comes every year.
Cold, snow, sleet and ice; shoveling and scraping; wrapping and bundling up
just to go out for the paper in the morning. And yet, every year, we put up
with it because we know that spring is not far behind. And who knows… el niño
may lessen the winterness of winter (or intensify it!).
Winter is a part of God’s
wonderful creation. As uncomfortable as it may seem, winter has some benefit.
For example, farmers count on a good snowfall each year to replenish the
moisture in their fields. Without adequate moisture in the spring, crop yield
can be inadequate. And you and I both would suffer. So, let it snow – even if
it is just to put food on the table next year.
Winter is the time when many
plants go dormant. They’ve stored up their food supply in their roots, and
remain idle until the sun’s rays warm the earth again. It’s a part of the
cycle that God has incorporated into His creation.
Did you ever think of yourself
like that? Do you have seasons when you tend to go dormant? When you’ve
stored up enough that you don’t have to be too active? Do you have a “winter”
in your walk with God? When it gets cold outside, or snowy, some of God’s
people tend to go dormant, waiting for the warm weather of spring. They
hibernate in their warm dens. They may curl up with a good novel, or pop in
some videos, or just enjoy a tasty mug of hot chocolate. It’s too cold to go
to services, too nasty out to visit others, just so dreary. That same weather
doesn’t seem to keep them from basketball games, ice skating, or even from
work (at least for the most part).
Winter may not be your favorite
time of the year, but don’t let it be an excuse to hibernate from God’s
service. Exercise more caution in travel, but continue actively serving God and
others. Until next time…
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12/22/02
- 'Tis the Season
“Tis the season to be jolly,” or so it’s said. And so it
seems to be. As I’ve been out and about, people seem to be a little more
kind, a little more polite, a little less impatient. Isn’t that a good thing?
I trust that when you’re out and about you are finding some of the same kinds
of niceties.
When I see this kind of polite
change, I can’t help but wonder: Why does it have to end with the holidays?
Isn’t it possible for people to be “jolly” and upbeat just about all year
long? (Sure, there are things that will occur at times in any given year that
put a damper on being joyful. But they will eventually pass, or we will adapt
to the change.) But in general, wouldn’t it be great if people carried the
“holiday spirit” with them all year long?
The “reason for the season” – the
traditional time of the birth of Jesus – is valid all year long. Jesus did
not come into this world simply to be born in a manger. He came to give us
life, and to have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). He came to show us how to live. I
have a hard time even imagining Jesus going to Wal-Mart® and
belly-aching because the line has two people in front of Him. I envision He
would begin a conversation with the people in line with Him much like He did
at the well in Samaria (Jn 4).
Can you imagine Jesus dining out
and complaining because the server didn’t get His water glass refilled as
fast some think it should be? “There goes that server’s tip!” I suspect He
would even pause and open the door for another even though it meant He would
not get to the Star Wars® toy section first.
As God’s children, we have Jesus
as our example. Yes, I know He never went to Wal-Mart® or went
shopping for toys. But as we read about Him walking the streets of Bethsaida,
or Capernaum, or Jerusalem, His thoughts were not about how things were going
for Him. His thoughts were filled with what is happening in the lives of
others. Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Mt 20:28).
Let’s start this week and see if
we can work on being “jolly” throughout not only the rest of this year but
also the coming year. As others watch us, maybe they’ll see a little bit of
Jesus in us. Until next time…
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12/29/02
- What Will you Do This Year?
The 2002 calendar’s days are few in number now. It seems like we just
woke up and it was 2002. Did you accomplish much of what you wanted to during
this waning year? What will you accomplish during 2003? Specifically, how will
your walk with God improve this year?
To whom will
you proclaim the good news of salvation from sin during the coming year? Jesus
said, Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to all creation (Mk 16:15). Just about every one of us knows
people who are lost because of sin. Many of our friends are already “going
to church” somewhere. The fact that one is religious does not mean they are
saved (Mt 7:21-23). If they have not been born again of the water and the
Spirit (Jn 3:1-5), they are outside of the family of God and therefore lost.
You will you take aside this year to teach them more accurately the Word of
God (Acts 18:24-19:7)?
Are there those
who you are not willing to forgive yet? Are you waiting for them to take the
first step? Jesus said, If you do not
forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you (Mt 6:15). Jesus
said that even if we are presenting our offerings on the altar and there
remember our brother has something against us, we are to leave our offering at
the altar and first be reconciled to our brother (Mt 5:23,24). Perhaps you
have forgiven them repeatedly for the same sin, and don’t trust their
repentance any more. Jesus also said, And
if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times,
saying, “I repent,” forgive
him (Lk 17:3,4). Who is there who desperately needs to be forgiven by you
– for your sake?
How have you
been treating those who are your enemies, those who are troublesome to you?
Jesus said, Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you (Mt 5:44). It is not easy to treat other with
kindness and compassion when they are kicking you (literally or figuratively).
Remember Stephen’s example: Lord, do
not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:60) How will you improve your
attitude towards these kinds of people this coming year?
These are but a
few nuggets to consider as we each seek to improve our walk with God during
the coming year. Until next time…
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1/5/03
- More Dedicated in 2003
The new year has now started. How are you doing on your list of
improvements for this year? I know, the year is early. But we blinked and 2002
disappeared into the pages of history.
Will you be a
daily Bible reader this year? That may be something that you have wanted to do
for a long time. Maybe you have started and gotten so far behind after a few
months that you gave up. It’s a new year. It’s a new opportunity. Grab
this opportunity by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. Show yourself as
one who can read through the Bible in a year. Don’t worry about February –
it’s almost a month away. Read today. Then read tomorrow. And then the next
tomorrow. Before you know it, you will have read through the Bible – maybe
even before the year is over.
Will you be
more attentive to the public services of the church this year? How many times
have we committed ourselves attending Bible class as well as the morning
worship service? You know in your heart that it is the right thing to do. You
know that you can learn more about God, more about how God expects us to live,
more about how to treat others like Jesus. Did you make it this morning?
It’s just the first Lord’s Day of the year. There are 51 more Sunday’s
this year. Make up your mind today to be in Bible class next Sunday.
Don’t forget
about Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings either. Are you too busy? Which
of us is not busy? It is a choice we make because we know it is the right
thing to do – to meet with God’s people. It is beneficial to you and to me
when we are both here. Choose today to include all the services of the church
in your plans.
Will you be
more dedicated to prayer this year? Prayer is talking things over with God.
It’s not a superstitious exercise, but the laying of our concerns before our
Father in heaven. Create your own prayer list of those whom you want to carry
before God daily: your family and friends; those you know who are lost; those
who have turned away from God for whatever reason; those who are workers
overseas or at home in the Lord’s vineyard; and don’t forget, your own
improving walk with God.
This year will
be over before we know it. We’d better get to work on these things now
before it too is history. Until next time…
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1/12/03
- Jesus and Prayers
During His public ministry, prayer was a continual element in Jesus’
life. From the time of His public appearance in Israel, His baptism (Lk 3:21),
to His death on the cross (Lk 23:34), Jesus’ life was characterized by
prayer. Communion with the Father in heaven was fundamental to Jesus’ work
here. Prior to His entrance into this world through Mary, Jesus and the Father
were together, they shared the Divine nature. For our sakes, Jesus gave up His
equality with God. (Phil 2:5-8) But He did not give up His communion with the
Father.
Jesus’ prayer
life could be characterized Luke’s statement: But Jesus Himself would often
slip away to the wilderness and pray. (Lk 5:16)
Jesus was
visiting Bethsaida, staying at the home of Simon Peter and his family.
Peter’s mother-in-law had been sick with a fever and Jesus had healed her.
That evening, after the sun set ending the Sabbath, the townspeople began
bringing many who were needing the Master’s touch. Jesus healed many and
cast out many demons. The next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. (Mk
1:29-35)
On another
occasion, Jesus had been discussing healing on the Sabbath with some of the
religious leaders. They were filled with rage towards Jesus. Jesus left them
and went off to the mountains. He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (Lk
6:6-12) When morning came, He appointed those who were to be with Him.
Before He fed
the 5000 and again the 4000, He took the loaves and the fishes, and blessed
them – offering thanks to God. (Mt 15:36; Mk 8:3) While they were removing
the stone from Lazarus’ tomb, He lifted His eyes to heaven to thank God. (Jn
11:41.42)
Jesus was a man
devoted to prayer, committed to continued communion with the Father. Jesus is
our example for life in God’s family. How does your commitment to communion
with God in prayer compare to Jesus’? What will you do bring it more in line
with the One who died to bring you into communion with God?
Until next
time…
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1/19/03
- Daily Bible Readers
God has given us His word for our benefit. It contains the message of
God’s work with mankind, climaxing with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Old Testament is a record of God’s work with Abraham’s descendants,
the nation of Israel in particular. The New Testament is a record of God’s
salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross for all people potentially.
Together they make up God’s revelation to mankind. He has indeed given us
everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Paul wrote to
Timothy, Be diligent to present
yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15) We recognize that
Timothy, as an preacher, needed to be very knowledgeable of what God said. His
work demanded he teach accurately the things of God. (Jms 3:1) A teacher can
be mistaken in what he teaches, even as Apollos was. (Acts 18:24-26) Only by
having an intimate knowledge of God’s word can a teacher reduce the
possibility of sinning by teaching error.
The Psalmist
wrote, Your word I have treasured in my
heart, That I may not sin against You. (Ps 119:11) So important was his
walk with God that he took the effort to know God’s revelation, to be
intimately acquainted with it so that he could recognize temptation and its
subsequent sin before it became his own sin.
We have
God’s word today. Many have several copies of it lying around their homes.
It is our guide for pleasing God, whether we are a formal teacher of the
gospel, or simply one who seeks to walk with God through this life. We cannot
know what God expects from us if we do not know what God has said. We cannot
know what God has said if we do not take adequate time to read – and study
– His Word, the Bible.
How many of us
take the time to read the newspaper daily? Or the TV guide? Or to watch
television? Or to listen to the radio? We easily find time to do those things
that we want to do. Perhaps one of the reasons more people are not daily Bible
readers is as simple as this: they don’t want to. And yet, the radio and TV
don’t reveal God’s love and mercy. The newspaper and TV guide don’t
teach us about God’s Savior or pleasing God. Only the Bible does that for
us.
Will you make
it so important in your life that you’ll read it daily? Until next time…
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1/26/03
- Being in Bible Class
We at Columbus Avenue are privileged to have a wonderful corps of
teachers for our Bible class program. Teachers who are committed to helping
others understand the Bible better are a boon to any congregation of God’s
people. And we are blessed with many.
Sadly, however,
there are too many times when their diligent preparation is under-appreciated.
When a teacher has gone the extra mile to prepare a quality lesson for his or
her students and then to have many of those who are part of that class not
show up, it is disheartening to even the strongest teacher. When a family
arrives 5, 10, 15, even 20 minutes late, not only have they missed out on an
excellent learning experience, they have tarnished the experience for those
who have been there for the whole class period. It is an unnecessary
interruption to the class for someone to show up late. (No, that doesn’t
mean just skip it since you’re late already. It means get there on time!
Some people are habitually late, and habits can
be changed – if we want to.)
When one
mentions Bible class, many people’s thoughts turn primarily towards the
children. Bible class is an excellent supplement to the Bible training
children receive at home. The first line of instruction falls to the parents
(Eph 6:4). The church’s Bible class program should be a supplement to it,
not the totality of it. The point is this: Bible class is not just for
children, and not just for families with children. Bible class is beneficial
to all of God’s children. And, as
with our children’s Bible instruction, it is a supplement to what each
should be learning in their personal Bible study at home.
Columbus Avenue
offers Bible classes for students of every age twice a week. In addition to
the children’s program, there are several adult classes both Sunday morning
and Wednesday evening. There are classes following a textual format (studying
through the books of the Bible) as well as those that deal with topics that
are both timely and important to younger adults, to older adults, and to
women.
Make Bible
class a regular part of your involvement with the Columbus Avenue church
family. The rewards are eternal. Until next time…
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2/02/03
- Thank God or Blame God?
The sweet Psalmist of Israel wrote these words: I will give thanks to the LORD with all my
heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I
will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. (Ps 9:1)
When we read about David’s life,
it is abundantly clear that he did not always have it easy. As a youth, he
was called into service to King Saul. David was a skilled musician, and when
he played his harp, the king’s troubles were soothed. He developed a very
close friendship with King Saul’s son Jonathan. Over the years, the king became
leery of David, even fearful of him. David eventually fled from King Saul
because Saul wanted him dead. Yet during those times, David could write of
his abiding trust in God, and his thankfulness for what God was doing for
him.
When those kinds of troubles came
into his life – and more than just Saul wanted to put David to death – David
stood steadfast in his trust in God. He did not blame God for his troubles.
He knew that his troubles were the result of the actions of wicked men. Many
of his psalms speak of the actions of those who oppressed him. They also
speak of his trust in God for deliverance through the troubles (not
necessarily from them). He could
always give thanks to God because he knew that God cared for him.
It is curious today that when
troubles come into a person’s life they frequently blame God. They would no
more think of blaming the wickedness of those around them, or their own
sinfulness. They lay the blame squarely at the feet of the one who can
deliver them through their troubles. They would not think of giving thanks to
God for His aid and comfort during such troubles.
Paul wrote, Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
(I Cor 15:33) We can find ourselves in the same sinking boat as those who
blame God. We can find ourselves being influenced by the world around us more
than by the God who is in us. We find ourselves doubting God and trusting men
even though it is the wickedness of men that afflicts us and the grace of God
that delivers us. Where then is there room for the kind of thanksgiving that
filled David’s life?
Let us learn to keep our trust in
God and continually give our thanks to Him no matter how the wicked may
torment and afflict us. Until next time…
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2/9/03
- Evangelism
Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be
saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (Mk 16:15,16)
These words of
Jesus are the marching orders for His people throughout the ages until He
comes to take His people home. We live in an age when evangelism – teaching
and preaching the gospel – is not very popular. But then, it was not very
popular in Paul’s day either. Paul’s preaching resulted in his own
physical abuse as well as the emotional strain of seeking to present every man
complete in Christ. (Cf., 2 Cor 11:24-29; Col 1:28) These very real hindrances
did not deter Paul from preaching Christ.
“I’m not
Paul,” you say. Neither am I. You may even think of Paul as being especially
committed so that he could easily endure such things. “After all, he
didn’t have a wife and family to be concerned about. Surely God doesn’t
expect such from the rest of us, does He?” Do you not know? Have you not
heard? God is no respecter of persons. Paul was not alone in what happened to
him because of the gospel. I’m not thinking of those who traveled with Paul,
but rather of those who went about preaching the word as a result of
Stephen’s death. Luke tells it simply: Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
(Acts 8:4) Those were not the apostles. They were allowed to remain in
Jerusalem. These were people like Philip who had a life-affecting concern for
the things of God. (Cf., Acts 6:3) They were Christians, like you and me.
Evangelism
doesn’t necessarily mean talking to strangers in strange lands. It starts at
home. Teaching and showing our children about God’s love in Jesus. It
extends to our neighbors who do not know God. It flows into the workplace
where people see us in the everyday situations of life, where Christianity’s
rubber hits the road of life. It’s showing Christ by our lifestyle choices.
People will notice that we are different from them, no longer involved in the
same kinds of excesses as they are. (1 Pet 4:4) {If they don’t see a difference in your life, you are in trouble, big
time – James 4:4!}
We are God’s
emissaries in this world. Souls we don’t talk to will remain lost for
eternity. Let it be their decision, not yours. Let us show and tell of the
Christ who died for us. Until next time…
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2/16/03
- Church Discipline
“Why
are they picking on me?” “How could they do such a thing? I thought the
church was a place where you could be loved unconditionally? Why would they do
such a mean thing to such a good member?”
Many times when
the subject of church discipline comes up, these are among the typical
responses by various members of the church. Sadly, they reflect a very poor
understanding of what church discipline is all about. Church discipline is not
picking on one member over another. Church discipline is not an unkind or
unloving action. Church discipline has as its only purpose the salvation of a
soul that has been overcome in some sin or sins. Church discipline is a strong
effort to cause the Christian who is currently in rebellion to God to return
to submission to God’s revealed will.
As members one
of another, we have a mutual responsibility to help each other when sin comes
unchecked into one of our lives. Paul spoke of restoring those who have been
overtaken by sin (Gal 6:1). James speaks of saving a soul from death by
turning a sinner from the error of his way (Jms 5:19-20). When we learn that a
brother or sister has taken up a practice that is not according to God’s
revealed will, we each have the responsibility to try to convince them of
their error.
There are times
when a brother or sister refuses to acknowledge their error. Jesus tells us we
are to take others with us in order to establish the facts of the matter (Mt
18:15-16). This practice is based on an Old Testament command that prevents a
malicious witness from rising up and falsely accusing another (Dt 19:15,16).
If that brother or sister still refuses to acknowledge their sin, Jesus says
the matter is to be taken before the church (Mt 18:17). If they continue to
refuse to change their ways, they are to be as a Gentile and a tax collector
– they are to be avoided.
The popular
term for this process is “withdrawing fellowship.” That is really a
misnomer because what the congregation is doing is to publicly acknowledge
that a person is no longer in fellowship with God because of their continuance
in sin. If one is not in fellowship with God, they cannot be in fellowship
with God’s church. Yet even as God wants them to repent, so the church also
is trying to get them to repent of their sinful ways – to save their soul.
Until next
time…
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2/23/03
- Church Discipline and Fellowship
When parents talk of disciplining their children, often times their listeners
envision such things as time out, withholding privileges, or even spanking -
punishment. When the subject is church discipline, many people think of it as
a punishment, like withholding privileges from a naughty child. Understanding
is in the mind, and for some church discipline will ever be a punishment
inflicted by the church. Biblically it is not a punishment inflicted, but a
dramatic appeal to repent and have God’s fellowship restored.
One of the ways to help overcome the negative
connotations associated with church discipline is to see it used effectively.
Church discipline can either be effective or not. What makes the difference?
The life of the church does!
The Corinthian church was instructed to remove one of
its members because of his unrepentant sin (1 Cor 5). Until Paul wrote the
church, they continued to associate openly and freely with this brother in
Christ. When Paul wrote, they heeded his instruction and no longer associated
with him, no not even to eat with him. A few months later, Paul wrote another
letter to them. Part of that letter was to commend them for their obedience to
his instructions about that sinful brother (2 Cor 2:1-11). Their action
resulted in this man turning from his sinful way and being restored not only
to God’s fellowship, but the church’s (2 Cor 7:8-13).
The secret to the success of church discipline is not
simply the majority of the church enforcing it, but to the nature of their
relationship before
it was imposed. If the sinful man had not longed for their fellowship,
withholding it would not have been a loss to him. But because he longed to be
a part of their church family, he readily gave up his sin in order to have
that fellowship restored.
When church discipline is engaged in today, one of
its hindrances to its effectiveness is the lack of meaningful fellowship prior
to its enactment. Those who don’t long for the fellowship of the church
won’t miss it when it is withdrawn, and thus, church discipline is not
effective. Where love and friendships permeate a congregation, the loss of
that fellowship can cause one to turn even from their dearest sins. Discipline
will be effective.
Let’s do all we can to make discipline as effective
in this day as it was in Corinth so long ago. Until next time…
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3/2/03
- Changed Hearts
From time to time, we hear of people who have had a change of heart.
Generally, the phrase is used when someone has changed their mind about a
matter of some importance. It reflects a change in one’s life. In the days
of Daniel the prophet, we are told that Nebuchadnezzar had a change of heart -
Let his heart be changed from man's, and
let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
(Dan 4:16, KJV) Other translations will use the term “mind” instead of
“heart.” Nebuchadnezzar had exalted himself, and God was disciplining him
so that he would acknowledged the Lord God. His heart, or mind, needed to be
changed.
When one becomes a Christian, they are to experience
a change of heart. Paul put it in these words when he wrote to the Colossian
brethren: So, as those who have been
chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… (Col 3:12) We are to be
different people when we become children of God. This difference should be
noticeable to others. Peter wrote about those who were surprised that
Christians did not run to the same excesses they had before. (1 Pet 4:4) Jesus
said that our love for one another would be a telling sign that we are His
people. (Jn 13:35)
When we are in Christ, we are different people,
behaving in different ways, noticeably different ways. Our hearts have been
changed. Our actions are to be characterized by holiness and righteousness. We
are not to allow ourselves to be pressed into the world’s mold, rather we
are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. (Rom 12:2) We should think
on the good things, the honest things, the wholesome things. (Phil 4:8) We
should think on the things that make for peace between people. (Rom 14:19) We
should be like Jesus who showed us the kind of heart we are to possess and
exemplify.
We are faced with challenges today that were unheard
of 50 years ago. Our culture is trying to force us into its mold. It does not
tolerate those who uphold righteousness. It seeks to draw us down to its base
level. Resist the world’s influence to draw you down.
How’s your heart? Or should I ask: whose heart is
yours patterned after? Until next time…
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3/9/03
- Put On a Heart of Compassion
So, as those who have been chosen of
God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… (Col 3:12)
When Jesus walked through the dusty roads of
Palestine, many people followed Him. There where times when they simply
pressed in on Him. They sought to be near Him, to hear Him, and it seems,
mostly to be helped by Him. Matthew mentions one of those occasions in our 15th
chapter. For three days the people had been following Jesus. He had healed
many of their sick: the mute were speaking, the lame were walking, the blind
were seeing. He had tried to move to the mountain area away from the Sea of
Galilee, but they followed Him. It was at this point that Jesus made the
following statement: “I feel compassion
for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have
nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might
faint on the way.” (Mt 15:32) Then He fed them – all 4000 men plus the
women and children!
“I feel compassion for this people…” Their
physical condition was weighing on the Master of the Universe. Their misery
was His concern, and He chose to do something about it. That’s the heart of
compassion. That’s the kind of heart God calls for each of us to put on.
The heart of compassion is often equated with love
for another, to be compassionate. But it is more akin to mercy. Mercy sees
misery and wants to relieve that misery. It is willing to expend itself to
help another have it better in life.
Compassion sees a mother with small children
struggling to carry her groceries and offers to help carry her load.
Compassion sees an older gentleman tottering on the snow cover and offers a
steadying arm. Compassion sees its neighbor not able to get out because of the
weather or sickness or car trouble or whatever it may be and knocks on their
door to offer what ever assistance is needed. Compassion sees a child chilled
by the winter wind and puts a coat around their shoulders. Compassion sees the
misery of life around it and looks within itself to ask, “How can I help?”
Compassion is what Jesus showed when He came into
this world. It is what you and I also are to show in this world. Is your heart
clothed with compassion? Until next time…
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