The
above verse is from Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV). There are several places in the
Old Testament that talk about God's compassion. In Psalms 78:38 we are reminded
of God's mercy on the children of Israel. In Psalms 86:15 we are told that God
is full of compassion and is gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and
truth. King David said that: “God crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender
mercies” (Ps 103: 4).
In
the New Testament we learn about the compassion of Jesus; we are told in
Matthew 14:14 that Jesus was: "moved with compassion". The meaning of
that phrase is pity or sympathy coming from deep within. In this particular
instance his compassion led him to heal the sick.
In
Matthew 9:36 we read that Jesus was moved with compassion for the lost. In Mark
8:2 Jesus showed great compassion because the multitude was hungry and he fed them.
The apostle Mark also recorded the compassion of Jesus for a leper that he
healed (Mark 1:41).
In
Luke 7:13 is the beautiful and compassionate story of Jesus in the town of Nain,
where he raised the widow’s son from the dead. This was the widows only son. Are
you getting the picture?
I
believe that as we share the compassion of Jesus with those, we come in contact
with each day we will be shining our lights for Jesus and will bring hope and
encouragement to those that need it. Compassion is what it's all about.
Have
compassion and send this to somebody. All rights reserved.
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others.
God met with Moses in the desert at the
burning bush and told him he would send him to bring Israel out of Egypt (Ex 3).
Moses did not feel adequate for the job and did not feel the people of Israel
would listen to him. God asked Moses what it was that he had in his hand. He
told Moses to throw down his rod and it turned in to a snake (Ex 4:1-4). God
said this will be a sign to the unbeliever. God used Moses mightily to deliver his
people.
Often,
we doubt our abilities and the giftings God has given us; we want God to do it
all for us. God wants us to have faith in him but he wants us to do our part
and often asks what we have got that he can use?
Elisha
ministered to a destitute widow and asked her, what she had in her house (2 Kings
4:1-7)? It was only a pot of oil. He told her to borrow vessels to pour oil
into. The oil poured until the last vessel was full and so she had oil to sell.
The miracle was only limited by the number of vessels.
Elijah
challenged a widow to use her last oil and flour to feed him and when she did
God caused the oil and flour to miraculously last and feed the widow and her
son throughout a long period of famine (1 Kings 17:8-16).
What
has God given you that you can use for his glory, to get the job done, to meet
your needs? God made us and gifted us; we all have a rod or some oil he can use.
We are all important and loved by him; he wants to care for us and he has
things for all of us to do to further his kingdom
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
Ephesians
2:8 and 9 tell us that we are saved by grace and not by works. However, in
verse 10 it says that once we are born again, we are God's handiwork and
recreated so we can do good works. It is only because we have a brand-new
spirit that we can do those good works which don't come naturally to our flesh.
In 1
Timothy 6:18 we read: "That they do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to communicate". And in Titus 2:14 we are
told to be zealous for good works. To be zealous about something means to be
red hot about it. There are many admonitions in the New Testament to do good so
it must be important to God. The apostle James discusses the issue of faith and
works in James chapter 2. In verse 17 and 26 of that chapter he says that faith
without works is dead. Faith isn’t faith without corresponding confession (Mark
11:23) and actions. If we are believing God for healing but our words are just saying
how sick we are, there is a problem. Similarly, if we say we are praying in
faith for a friend to be blessed but don’t allow God to use us to bless him or her,
we would have to check our faith.
Opportunities usually present themselves
every day for us to do good works; if they don't then we can intentionally
create those opportunities. So, be creative and enjoy being a blessing.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
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others.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until
now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by
force.” (Matt 11:12; KJV) This verse does not talk about evil attacks but those
who are spiritually hungry pressing in to have and experience all God has for
them; to be all that God wants them to be.
Jesus
said that those who: “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matt 5:6) or
right standing with God, will be blessed, will be filled; filled with his
nature, character and life. To be filled here carries the sense of being filled
abundantly.
Jesus
promised that he and the father would dwell with us and be in us (John 14:23;
15:5; 17:21). We as Christians cannot be complacent, we must hunger for all of
God. This isn’t something we do with the strength of the flesh but by humbling
ourselves before God (1 Peter 5:6) in prayer, fellowship and spending time in his
word.
It’s
God that will work the changes in us and fill us with his fullness (Eph 3:19).
We just have to cooperate with him and allow him to change, mold, and meld us
to be more like Christ each day and to glorify his name (1 Cor 6:20). Don’t
ever get satisfied, press in (Phil 3:14).
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
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others.
"Boast
not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the
root thee" (Rom 11:18; KJV). The root bears us; a simple verse which we
can read without even noticing. So, what
do we know about roots? We know that Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the:
"Root of Jesse" (Isa 11:10). In Revelations 22:16 Jesus himself said:
"I am the root and the offspring of David".
With
regard to roots in the natural world we understand that the roots supply a
plant or tree with water and nourishment to cause it to grow, mature and bear
fruit. The roots also support and give strength to the tree; they hold it
steady during storms. Likewise, with us in our spiritual life. The apostle Paul
taught us that we need to be "rooted and grounded in love." (Eph.
3:17). The tense of the verb rooted shows that this means an ongoing form of
the verb; in other words, we should continually be rooted in love. In Colossians
2:7 we reed that we are to be: "rooted and built up in him, and stablished
in the faith." If we are to be rooted and grounded in Jesus (who is love)
then we need to spend time meditating on what the Bible teaches us about Jesus
and love and spending time with him in prayer and fellowship. The more we do that
the more we will mature and grow supported and nurtured by Jesus our root.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.