Compassion

 

Compassion

1 Timothy 6: ²⁰ Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.” ²¹ For some have claimed to possess it, and as a result they have lost the way of faith.

 

God's grace be with you all.

 

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Another leader was fired. “Good riddance” I thought to myself. I was tired of his tyranny anyway. After a number of years, I rose up to be in his position. Twisted words and flaming arrows came from places I did not see. I knew what I knew, but was not ready for the arguments and fights I faced. I was let go.

 

• Afterwards, I thought I needed to learn the world’s ways to fight better.
• Afterwards, I thought I had to become something different than who GOD called me to be.
• Afterwards, I contemplated two paths, one with human glory and one with GOD’s glory.

 

Paul urges Timothy to “keep safe what has been entrusted to your care.” Some people may have been trying to impose their “Knowledge” as “success” in human’s eyes. But Timothy’s calling was to have compassion on those he was entrusted to care for.

 

My Observations

• Arguments over knowledge need to be exchanged with keeping the calling, Word and people GOD has entrusted to me, safe.
• Faith is something I can get from GOD and give back to HIM.
• Praying for those who “know” things, but do not profess GOD in all they do requires compassion.

 

Instead of waiting on GOD to be the ultimate punisher, HE wants me to have compassion for those who walk away from the faith HE loves everyone with passion and desires that all be saved.

 

HE does not want me to argue with people over HIS power. HE says “MY grace is sufficient” and is quite confident in HIS abilities. I am glad HE allows me to pray to HIM because HE has shown compassion on me.

 

Challenge

• What advice is the writer giving?
• Have you ever been ready to fight, versus trying to have compassion?
• Will you have the same compassion GOD has shown you on other people today?

Renewing Image

Renewing Image

Colossians 3: ⁸ But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits ¹⁰ and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself. ¹¹ As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.

 

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“Where were you?” was the strange question given to me. I had snuck back to my apartment, made dinner, ate and came back to work to clock out. My clothes wreaked of cooked food and I was not where I was supposed to be. “I am disappointed in you especially.”

 

• I could see the disappointment in his face.
• I had not done what I was supposed to.
• I ruined my image over something that could have waited.

 

Paul addresses image. Some people were expressing rage, hatred and extreme feelings against or towards specific groups of people. Their image was no longer like that of GOD. Instead, they had fallen into habits that were divisive.

 

My Observations

• GOD created me in HIS image and HE was very pleased.
• Sin caused me to no longer look like HIM, rather I looked like the enemy who tried to steal me.
• JESUS restored my image and provided the HOLY SPIRIT who is “constantly renewing” me in HIS own image.

 

Being born into sin seems unfair and impossible to overcome. I mean, I did not choose to be born, yet because I was born, I an condemned! Not fair! BUT GOD saw this and made things right. JESUS saw the impossible situation, became a human, allowed HIS creation to murder HIM and was raised from the dead for all who believe.

 

Salvation changed my image from death to life. I am now alive! Because of JESUS I have purpose, abundant life and hope. I still sin, but I have an alternative and forgiveness that enables me to have peace in the middle of the storm. I am glad GOD cares about me enough to bring me back to HIS image.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mean by “put on the new self?”
• Do you think GOD, who saved you, has left you on your own to figure out how to get out of trials?
• Will you trust GOD’s ways enough to drop some old habits and to become more and more like HIM, little by little today?

Not As It Seems

Not As It Seems

Colossians 2: Let me tell you how hard I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others who do not know me personally. ² I do this in order that they may be filled with courage and may be drawn together in love, and so have the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way they will know God's secret, which is Christ himself. ³ He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge.

 

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Despising my previous jobs as a person who cleaned after others, I set my pursuits on technology. When I got into the industry, I found I was working long hours due to the sheer amount of work and competition.

 

• I was still uneasy and unsure of my future.
• I was temporarily part of a team that seemed to change when someone moved on.
• I thought having a “good” job would bring me assurance, but it did not and I had more worries.

 

Paul explains why he did what he did. He worked hard spreading the Gospel to strangers because CHRIST HIMSELF opened his eyes to the “hidden treasures of GOD’s wisdom.”

 

My Observations

• Worldly pursuits can sometimes blind me to seeking GOD’s kingdom.
• Thinking of “getting ahead” reduces my thinking of GOD.
• I may get what I want but not want what I get.

 

Spiritual blindness is a natural born trait that seems impossible to overcome. I mean, I am born into sin and set my mind on the pursuits of sin. It seems hopeless that I am doomed to choose sinful ways. BUT GOD intervened.

 

JESUS interrupted the cycle by dying for the sins of all mankind. HIS resurrection opened up GOD’s hidden treasure that is hidden from those who do not believe. Pursuits can now be placed under the feet of JESUS so HE can guide me to where HE wants me to be. I am glad I can give everything to GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer worked hard doing what he did?
• Have you ever been motivated by money or fame or power?
• Will you give your pursuits to GOD so HE can guide them and lead you on a path of unimaginable wisdom and knowledge today?

Puffed or Built

Puffed or Built

1 Corinthians 8: Now, concerning what you wrote about food offered to idols.

It is true, of course, that “all of us have knowledge,” as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up. ² Those who think they know something really don't know as they ought to know. ³ But the person who loves God is known by him.

 

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“Why are you carrying all those files?” a leader questioned me. “I want to be prepared with the answer” I replied. I had been caught off guard by someone who was trying to trip me up and this was not going to happen again. He said, “Having the answers sometimes does not show leadership.”

 

• There have been times when I felt insecure.
• There have been times when I thought having the answers would make me look intelligent.
• There have been times when I believed the smarter I looked the more accepted I would be.

 

Paul was about to address a concern regarding food offered to idols, but he starts with a strange beginning. He begins with self-pride. The root of the pride is the dependence on human knowledge. He then offers the solution to the self-pride, simply to relax and be known by GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to rejoice that HE saved me.
• GOD wants me to be excited about my relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to be alright with not having the answers because HE is the answer.

 

Being puffed up or built up is a choice. I mean, when I seek validation from humans, I may look to be intelligent in front of groups of people and ask the crowd to “like” what I said. I guess that is why social media is so popular. This causes me to be “puffed up.” BUT GOD wants my validation to come from HIM. HE builds me up with HIS love.

 

Just knowing that I am known by HIM should make me excited. HE did everything to have a solid relationship with me, even when I was not seeking HIM. HE saw my sins before I was born, yet created me anyway. HE died for my sins and was raised from the dead. HE gave me the COMFORTER when I believed in HIM. And HE guides me daily with love. I am grateful HE knows me.

 

• Are you seeking approval from humans?
• Do you feel insecure so you think knowledge is your route to being affirmed?
• Will you rejoice in the fact that the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful GOD, knows and loves you and is willing to guide you if you surrender your life to HIM today?

Personal Fuel

Luke 5 : ⁴ When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵ But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

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“There is no way I can accomplish that” I said to myself. I looked at my resources and assessed my intellectual prowess and concluded the task at hand was too large for me. “Can you do it?” was the questioned posed to me again. Sadly I said “No.”

There were times when I thought “I” was in control.

There were times when I depended on “my” knowledge.

There were times when I believed in “my” strength.

Simon (Peter) was told to go fish after unsuccessfully fishing all night. He was a professional fisherman who probably had caught many fish and knew when he was not going to have a good day. JESUS knew something different.

GOD tells me to believe the unbelievable.

GOD tells me to have faith in HIM rather than what I see.

GOD tells me to trust in HIS power rather than thinking “I” have all the answers.

Having faith in GOD means letting go of “my” power. If I believe in “me” and “my” abilities, then I may not have room for GOD to take care of the situation. Only when I toil to the point of exhaustion, do I call on GOD. HE wants me to add HIM first when I make my plans. I get my fuel from GOD.

Are you exhausted?

Do you think you need to fix everything?

Can you let GOD handle your situation and give you strength to do what HE wants you to do today?