Notes of Faith January 29, 2025
Having Compassion…
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9
In the church you attend, there are burdened souls staggering under their loads. In the nearby hospital, the sick and their loved ones are facing difficult moments. Down the street, inmates in the jail feel lost. In the nursing homes, lots of lonely people are suffering. And all around the world, there are millions of people who wonder how to deal with their overwhelming problems.
God has called us to minister to a suffering world. We must make a priority of asking God to show us where people are hurting so we can serve them in whatever way we can. We don’t have to go looking for those with needs. They’re all around us. We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.
Pray today and ask God to lead you to someone you can serve in their time of need.
Jesus teaches that human need must always be helped; that there is no greater task than to relieve someone’s pain and distress and that the Christian’s compassion must be like God’s—unceasing.
William Barclay
1 Peter 3:8-12
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,
"THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."
We have a compassionate God or because of disobedience to Him we would be destroyed. His loving compassion gives us opportunity to repent of our evil ways, turn to Him, ask forgiveness, and He gives forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in glory with Him. May we understand the compassion of the Lord and seek to be like Him in His care and love.
Pastor Dale