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?

Moment of Clarity

Moment of Clarity

Acts 11: ⁴ But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

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“You got it! Said the math teacher to me. I understood what was being said and I was able to explain it back to the teacher, clearly. I understood the principle and could apply the concept.

• There have been times when I understood something at a certain moment.
• There have been times when I got it after putting the pieces together.
• There have been times when I could point to the moment of clarity after wrestling with something.

Peter explains a very strange vision. For years he had been taught one way but was told to do something that seemed opposite. He was told to eat some very strange animals and insects which would make him ritually unclean. BUT GOD explained the concept of clean to him.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM so HE can provide clarity.
• GOD wants me to listen to HIM so HE can teach me.
• GOD wants me to study HIS ways so HE can correct my broken thinking about HIM.

All of heaven rejoices when one human has a moment of clarity regarding the belief in JESUS as the Savior. GOD loves when I look for HIM and find HIM sitting right next to me, never having left to go anywhere. This moment of clarity grows my faith in HIM and builds my trust. I am grateful GOD provides clarity in my purpose for HIM.

• Are you confused right now?
• Do you spend most of your time talking about someone else, never talking about your relationship with GOD?
• Will you ask GOD for a moment of clarity for your purpose?

Spinning the Spinners

Mark 4: ¹⁰ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, ¹² so that

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

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In an effort to make the situation better, my bosses told me to “Update the message to make it more palatable.” In other words they wanted me to put “spin” on the message. Instead of saying “This flat out does not work” they suggested “At this time, certain features are being reviewed.” I wonder if I try to “spin” the explanation of JESUS.

• There were times when I used “spin” to make the story easier.
• There were times when I used a more palatable story to explain things.
• There were times when I would take a lie and try to spin it to “a” truth that was close enough.

JESUS saw through the hearts of those who would never believe in HIM. HE spoke in parables because speaking in direct terms to someone who would never believe in HIM would be a waste of HIS time. HE wants me to believe in HIM whether HE speaks directly or indirectly to me.

• JESUS speaks to me through written history and letters compiled in a Bible.
• JESUS speaks to me through humans who speak highly of HIM.
• JESUS speaks to me through circumstances that only HE can orchestrate.

Amazement can happen on a daily basis if I allow it. I mean I could walk out my door and be absolutely amazed if I were to open my eyes and ears to what GOD is doing. Unfortunately the worries of the world blind me at times to the amazing things around me. GOD says “Relax. Let ME guide you with MY plan.” When I allow HIM to be GOD I can truly “perceive” and “understand.”

• Are you confused about something?
• Do you have a very specific answer for your problem that you are not getting no matter how hard you try?
• Will you open your eyes and ears to GOD so you can see what HE is doing in your life today?

Hidden Messages

Matthew 11: ²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

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“You are so smart” was the compliment I loved to hear. This meant “I” was special. I worked hard to hear those words again and again. Finally, I reached a point where I was with the top people in my class. “Why are you hanging out with ‘those’ people?” they questioned me. “What people?” I replied. “The ones who will not get into college.” Hmm, is this the right crowd for me?

• There were some very smart people I admired.
• There were some very clever people I followed.
• There were some very intellectual people I tried to emulate only to find it was yet another class trying to exclude.

“Those people” meant it was them against “us.” It felt kind of good for a minute; I mean being hated by the troglodytes who slumped through the hallways. Unfortunately for me, GOD was hiding HIS message from me.

• GOD wanted me to see “People” not “Those people.”
• GOD wanted me to know “The smarter I got, the dumber I got spiritually.”
• GOD wanted me to understand that HIS power is infinite, confusing to humans and shown only to those HE chooses.

It took a while for me to stop worshipping the next genius that came along and start focusing on GOD’s power. Instead of trying to emulate them, I was bound to follow the examples of JESUS. The stuff that HE had me doing did not make sense. Soon I had gone to countries around the world, spreading HIS message of salvation.

While this did not make sense to the intellectual community, it made sense to GOD and that is what matters most!

• Are you trying to be noticed by your intellectual prowess?
• Have you lowered GOD into a thing “those” ignorant people worship?
• Can you open your eyes to GOD’s infinite power to create and sustain human life?
• Will you seek the hidden messages from GOD today?