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Compassion

Abundant Compassion

by TerryLema

David sinned. He sinned big. He committed adultery with another man’s wife, then arranged for that man to be killed in battle. When confronted with his sin, he repented. He recorded that repentance in Psalm 51.

Now lest we think badly of David because he sinned, each of us must acknowledge that we too have sinned. Maybe it wasn’t as dreadful a sin as David’s, but sin is sin. And as David wrote, it was against God and God alone that “I have sinned and done this evil in [His] sight.” [Psalm 51:4]

David had no recourse for forgiveness under the law for the law did not provide for “willful” sin. His only hope was to go directly to God.  “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.” [Psalm 51:1 HCSB]

David had one hope and He placed it in the abundant compassion and graciousness of God.

Exodus 34:6: “The LORD passed in front of [Moses] and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God.”

Deuteronomy 4:31: “…the LORD your God is a compassionate God.”

Joel 2:13: “…return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate.”

Jonah 4:2: “…I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God.”

James 5:11: “The LORD is very compassionate and merciful.”

We have one hope when we sin. We place our hope in the abundant compassion and graciousness of God that sent His One and Only Son to open the way to forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord. Today I focus on Your abundant compassion and grace. I praise You for blotting out my rebellion through the forgiveness found in My Savior and LORD. Amen

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Abundant

by TerryLema

I was catching up with a long-time friend recently who has endured a lot in the past few years. One difficulty after another with little time in between to catch his breath.

Compounding trials are some of the most difficult times in life to endure. It is hard to get the victory when you become more and more worn down.

As I prayed for my friend, two words came to mind – compassion and abundance.  I found those two words in a psalm of David. But before we get to the verse with those two words, listen to how the psalm begins: “Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy.” [86:1 NKJV]

Interesting that David asks God to bow down His ear to him. It is as if David cannot lift his own head up to the LORD but must ask God to bow down to his level. I know I have felt that way a few times in my life. Trials and difficulties had beaten me into the ground and unless God came to my level, I would have been bereft of any comfort.

But God did bow His ear to David’s need and He did bow His ear to my needs also. David acknowledges that in verse 15.

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and abundant in mercy and truth.” [Psalm 86:15 NKJV]

God is full of compassion. God is abundant in mercy. No matter how many trials or difficulties assault us, they will never exhaust God’s compassion or abundant mercy.

Today: Thank you LORD that you are willing to come down to us when we are beaten down by life, and that the deep wells of your compassion and mercy never run dry.

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A Widow with a Great Need!

by TerryLema

I love Luke 7 and the four interactions Jesus had with people. The first interaction was with the Roman Centurion who had a sick servant. Jesus, after noting the faith found in this Gentile, healed the servant without ever going into the Centurions house.

Shortly after, in verses 11-17 Jesus meets another group as He is entering the town of Nain. Unlike the group of Jewish elders that sought out Jesus to take note of the Centurion for his building them a synagogue, this group was totally unaware of Jesus.  Their focus was on the mother as she mourned her only son being carried out of the city for burial.  According to custom, this group would have been wailing as they mourned the loss.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, ‘Don’t cry.’  Then He came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, ‘Young man, I tell you, get up!’” [vs 13-14 HCSB]

That is exactly what the young man did. He sat up and began to speak. Then Jesus gave Him back to his mother.

Amazing, isn’t it! Jesus has the power over death. I take great comfort in that. But I think I take ever greater comfort in the fact that when the LORD saw this widow’s grief, He had compassion on her and without anyone asking Him to do anything, and He acted.

Sometimes I do not know what to ask. Sometimes things hit so fast there is no time to lift up a prayer or make a request. What assurance it is to know that our Savior sees our deepest needs and responds before we even ask for His help.

What a beautiful Savior we serve. All glory to Him be given. Amen

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Compassions

by TerryLema

In a book called “Lamentations,” which contains the cries and expressions of grief of the prophet Jeremiah, there is a portion of Scripture that most Christians learn very quickly. Probably because we need to learn it very quickly.

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.” [3:22-24 HCSB]

In almost the direct center of that book is a reminder that God’s mercies have no end, and that they are renewed fresh each morning.

Why is the reassurance of that so important?

I think there are two reasons. The first is that we are so used to things “ending.” We come to the end of various stages of life. We come to the end of our resources, energy, money, time, even our talents. Our jobs often end. Our relationships also do so at times.

There always seems to be something drawing to a close. Except the LORD’s faithful mercies. They have no end. We can never out distance them nor run out of them.

The other reason I think we cling to this verse is that phrase, “renewed fresh” each morning. Life often compounds things. We suffer not just a loss but multiple ones. We do not have one health issue; we have a couple. When things compound, they increase our suffering, grief, and stress.

But each morning, God’s mercies come fresh, absolutely, and totally efficient for whatever or how many needs we might see that day.

It is easy to cry out along with the prophet Jeremiah, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.”

 

Amen!

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Sanctify the LORD in Your Heart

by TerryLema

Right after Paul gave us the instruction regarding what kind of Gospel workers we should be (“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth”), he added a challenge. “But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.” [2 Timothy 2:16]

Wow, that is a warning for us today! “Irreverent, empty speech” seems to have become the national pastime. We see it everywhere. Sarcasm abounds. Nastiness is displayed all over social media. Ridicule is alive and well in news reports. Headlines are designed to capture someone’s attention and lead them in a totally different direction than the truth found deep in the article (because we usually do not read “deep” into the article to discover the truth.) People carry signs to shock. Cameras capture moments that embarrass or degrade.

Christians are not immune from “irreverent, empty speech” either. We say things about others who carry different political views, forgetting that Christ died for those “others” the same way He died for us. Instead of praying for godly sorrow and repentance to embrace them, we spout animosity.

All this has served to produce, as Paul reminds us, “an even greater measure of godlessness.”

Beloved, the Christian is to embrace a higher standard of conduct and speech. We are to pray. We are to give hope. We are to honor God by doing so with meekness and fear. Irreverent and empty speech should never describe us.

As Peter reminds us, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” [1 Peter 3:15]

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Signs Everywhere

by TerryLema

Everyone has a sign. They hold them up religiously during protests and gatherings. They know that everyone also has a camera and if their sign is right on or raunchy enough, someone is going to take a picture and it will end up on some form of media.

I have seen a lot of hideous signs and graffiti with the recent rioting and looting and anarchy in our street, but I saw a sign posted on social media recently that I cannot get out of my mind. It was held by a man with a smug look on his face. As I read it, I could literally feel my stomach churn and my chest get heavy. It read: “When Jesus comes back, kill him again.”

I cannot describe how difficult it was to write those words just now. I can still see the haughty look on that man’s face. My immediate reaction was to ask God for judgment. I wanted to see the look on his face when Jesus does come back in might and power. I wanted to see how arrogant he would be when he is made to kneel before the King of Kings and LORD of Lords.

Then, I realized that was not the attitude Jesus would have. He sorrowed over the Rich Young Ruler who rejected Him. When He hung on that cross, He forgave those who crucified Him. He restored Peter who denied Him. He called Paul, the one who persecuted the beginning church (the one who might have held a sign up like this man) and turned him into the greatest Apostle-missionary of all time. Jesus would have prayed, likely is praying, for this man’s soul.

These are the signs of the times, beloved. There is much hatred for our LORD in this world, and that hatred seeks to wound or destroy all those who place their faith in Christ Jesus as LORD. But we cannot let it damage our hearts nor twist us into something we are not to be. We must forgive, we must intercede for the lost.

We must be like our Savior and King. He was compassionate to the lost, comforting to the hurting. He spoke truth. He forgave. Yes, there is coming a time when He will also distribute justice and judgment, but beloved, He does not call us to judge our world, He calls us to offer hope and to intercede for the lost and to forgive as He forgave. Justice and judgment are in His Hands.

“They will give an account to the one [Christ Jesus] who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.”  [1 Peter 4:5]

 

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Clothe Yourself

by TerryLema

The other day I reminded us about who we are. Peter gave such a beautiful description of us in his first letter. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” [2:9]

With all those marvelous privileges come heavy responsibilities. Paul is always good about reminding us of our responsibilities to God and to others. He wastes no times in Colossians 3. After reminding us we are a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone, he tells how that should look in our daily walk.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” [v12]

When I read how Paul described our “garments” – what we are to be “clothed with” – I recall the coat that Jacob made for his son, Joseph. It is described as a “coat of many colors” in Genesis 37. Jacob gave Joseph that beautiful precious coat because he loved his son.

Paul tells us that as God’s chosen people, we are also “dearly loved” by our Father. As such, we are to wear a beautiful spiritual coat that reflects the love we have received from Him. This coat is colored with compassions, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

When we adorn ourselves with our coat of many colors and walk our Christian walk in this world, we bless others. We reflect how much the love of our Father has changed us. We are not cruel as many are, but gentle and kind. We are not angry but filled with patience. We are not arrogant, but humble. We walk with quiet strength amid all circumstances.

There are no exceptions contained in our responsibilities, no matter the difficulties that surround us. We do not stop being clothed with our spiritual coat of many colors just because of a fear-and-virus pandemic. If anything, our spiritual coat should be on even greater display.

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The Last Enemy

by TerryLema

The next event in the life of Jesus portrayed in Luke 7 is one that should touch every heart. Soon after Jesus’ healing of the Centurion’s servant, He was on the road again. This time He enters a little town called Nain, and immediately is confronted with something that touches the deep recesses of His compassion.

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” [Luke 7:11-13]

Then comes the best part! “He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” [7:14-15]

No one approached Jesus for help this time. No one was sent to see if He would respond to their request. Jesus saw the need before anyone in His entourage did. And He responded before anyone in the company of the grieving mother asked. Isn’t that an amazing compassion?

Jesus told the grieving mom not to cry and then He pushed back against the very thing that provoked her tears – death. This, of course, was a temporary restraining of death. This young man, like Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, would face physical death again. But our wonderful LORD, who wept at death and felt such compassion for the grieving, would by His very own death and resurrection overcome death itself. He brings eternal life to His own.

Now we have eternal life through Him and we wait for that day when even physical death will be banished from the King’s Kingdom forever. Hallelujah!

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Compassion & Power

by TerryLema

Compassion. Merriam-Webster’s definition of compassion is “sympathetic consciousness of others distress, together with a desire to alleviate it.”

There are numerous references to Jesus’ “compassion” in the Gospels. (Here are a few: Matthew 14:14, 15:32, 20:34, Mark 1:41, 6:34, 8:2). If you take a moment to read those, you’ll notice one thing in those instances of Jesus’ compassion that is not contained in the dictionary’s definition.

Yes, Jesus did have a sympathetic consciousness of the distress of others. And He also had a desire to alleviate it. But the one thing that’s different – He took it one step further and did something about the distress of others. He fed the hungry, He healed the sick, He touched the blind eyes, He cleansed the leper.

We speak a great deal about the compassion of our wonderful Father and Savior. We share the nature and character of our God with others. That is what we should be doing. But let’s not forget that while we remind people of Christ Jesus’ compassion and love for them, that we also remind them of His power to do something about their distress.

Jesus has the power to change lives. He feeds, heals, cleanses, brings life. He sets people free from the spiritual burdens they’ve born all their lives. He releases them from bondages. He sends His Spirit to indwell them to prove God’s love for them and assure them of His presence with them—they are not alone anymore. He woos and loves them into the Kingdom of God where they are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of the King.

Yes, our God has compassion, but even more He puts power into His compassion and sends it to us to set us free from our distress.  Bless His Mighty Name. Amen & Amen.

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