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?

Accepted or Rejected

Luke 10: ⁸ Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. ⁹ And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹² But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

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Street witnessing was a scary challenge that I accepted. As I sat in the class and learned an approach, I felt a little more comfortable about the task. “These people need to hear this” was my thought.

When I went out and approached someone in the neighborhood the person said, “Get away from me with that church .” “This is going to be a lot harder than I thought” I said to myself.

• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with the wrong attitude.
• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with a chip on my shoulder.
• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with a “holier than thou” attitude.

JESUS gives HIS final instructions to those HE sent to spread HIS wonderful message. HE let’s them know what to do if they were accepted and more importantly, if they were rejected. HE sent them with a purpose.

• GOD tells me “When you speak about ME, let MY grace be the center of attention.”
• GOD says to me “When you go to and speak to people about ME, have true compassion for them.”
• GOD informs me “Even when you speak humbly about ME, you will be rejected by some.”

“Expect to be rejected just like MY SON was rejected” are the words that one could take away from this passage. But there is more. HE sends me out seeking those who will listen. My attitude for going out needs to be one with compassion and determination.

At the first sign of rejection, I can’t just give up and say “Too bad that person is going to hell.” GOD wants me to view all people around me as a part of “me.” When someone rejects HIS message, it should hurt as much as cutting off a finger. When HE says, “move on” it should feel devastating, yet I must obey. GOD wants me to seek the lost just like HE sought me.

• What is your attitude towards helping people understand who CHRIST is?
• Do you think only a select people “deserve” hearing about the Gospel of JESUS?
• Are you willing to go out and be rejected by some and accepted by others when speaking about GOD’s wonderful grace?