Tuesday 12 May 2015

Life Lesson 19: The Almighty God shows us his compassion

What does the phrase or the term compassion mean, Google’s definition, notes it is a noun and refers to it as “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  "The victims should be treated with compassion."  Synonyms for compassion are “pity, sympathy, feeling, fellow feeling, empathy, understanding, care, concern, sensitivity, lover, tenderness, mercy, kindness, humanity etc…”


For decades I read the Word for Today and Our Daily Bread devotionals, however since the end of last year I have been reading an online devotional that I can across but accident, which I receive daily in my email inbox.  However because it is American I receive it at 10 am, so I find myself most mornings having to research the internet and find what today’s scripture and focus is for myself.  In the short couple of months I have been reading it, it has been inspirational, encouraging and reaffirming of this amazing and fantastic relationship we have with the Holy Trinity.


In Psalm 103:8-18The Message (MSG), once again reminded me of the Compassion, that the Almighty God has for us.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.”

I love the fact that does God not only love us, and is our shepherd (as not noted yesterday) so he makes supernatural provision and takes care of his sheep.  Moreover he has compassion on us, Father God is sympathetic to our human fragilities and needs.  He shows us pity when we make mistakes, rather than shouting us down and further condemning us.  He shows concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others”.  The Bibles says in the book of Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are”…(http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/clarkson/christ_touched_with_a_feeling_of_our_infirmities.htm).  Jesus is not alienated, isolated or far away from us, he has empathy, understanding, care and concern for us, in relation to whatever we are going through.  Indeed he understands, he has walked this road before us.  Additionally, he continues to work this road with us and beside, something astounding mercy, feeling, fellow feeling and humanity for our predicament.  No matter how difficult the journey becomes we are never alone.

Rob Jansons in the Today devotional notes that “Compassion arises from an understanding of the limitations and struggles of another person… God knows we will fail.  God will not condone rebellion or excuse wicked behaviour, but he has genuine compassion and is therefore quick to forgive.
Jesus’ ministry centred on compassion.  He was moved to help the weak and helpless.  That compassion led Jesus to the cross to save us in our hopeless state.” (http://today.reframemedia.com/devotionals/the-fathers-compassion

This becomes the blueprint for all our relationships, which we interact and engage in, be it parenting, friendship, church brethren, our community, clients, strangers, our parents or even siblings.  As a tutor, who teaching Government and Politics, one of the things that really puts me of the Christian Right is their lack of compassion for all, but especially the poor!  The Jesus I read about in my bible, the one who saved me from my sins and laid down his life for me; as a sacrificial offering, seems so different to their highly moralistic view of God.  Not to say that God doesn’t high expectations of us.  Yet he has such amazing mercy and Grace for us also.  Not because we are born intrinsically righteous, perfect and never make mistakes.  Rather because he has the loving heart of a compassionate father.  In the words of amazing grace “He looked beyond our faults and saw our needs.”  He looked beyond my faults and loved me for who I am. "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV).

Isn’t it amazing that God doesn’t judge us for who we appear to be, but for who he knows we really can be.  I love the fact that God’s perception and vision of us is so very different to our own understanding of self and this will also bring me to a number of new life lessons that I will share with you all later.  Our Heavenly father has an amazing and what should be an inspiring image of us, in the words of Marvin Sapp “He Saw the Best in Me”.  God wants so much more for us, than we can ever imagine or even comprehend and as we share of ourselves and our gifs, he continues to renew our strength and our cups (spiritually speaking that is).  In God’s eyes he sees the best in us.


The bible says that:
I am a new creation in Him!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17

I am reconciled in Christ! My message is reconciliation and freedom. 
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Cor 5:18-19

I am righteous and holy.
“And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

I have been born again by the Holy Spirit: 
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. John 3:3-6

I am saved by grace as a gift, not because of my performance. 
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8
Now, you understand you have the right to a new life in Christ. Once you have broken off wrong belief systems, God is beckoning you to step into His spotlight and radiate like never before.

She Radiates
I radiate light wherever I go.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
(http://sheismore.com/how-does-god-see-you-16-verses-that-reveal-your-true-identity/)      These wonderful scriptures and insights are shared by Kirsten Dalton Wolfe, please visit her blog to see more.

So whatever we do today, let’s remember the compassion that the father has for us and share it with others.  I love you all.
Be blessed to be a blessing.

IJN

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