Monday, October 20, 2008
Compassion
The meaning of the word Compassion is to be moved in the deep inward parts. Yet without action, compassion is not much more than a gut ache. Intentionality is what transforms the feeling into practical help for real needs. I am so challenged by the words of Jesus, "When you do it to the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me." If we could just get this declaration into our hearts and minds and then let it inform us how to live. In this lies one of the secrets of sharing compassion. What do you think????
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2 comments:
I loved this message! I was able to sense the tangible presence of God and it brought me to tears. I think the best part about this message was the opportunity to put this in real action. The day after this message was delivered, I received a call from a woman in need after a surgery. It was amazing to see how we all responded as a team and how others were willing to get involved. As I was helping out, there was such great joy. There was something about doing something for someone else, even when you already have a full plate, that does something in your heart. I'm sold out on service to others being valuable. I sometimes wonder if we are sold to much on making sure we are well fed first before helping others but I am reminded of a story I was recently told. I don't know who the author is but the insight was great.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'
The Lord led the holy man to two doors.
He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.
They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'
It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'
I would set this along side the popular footprints in the sand poem and find great value in it. I loved having been challenged in this adventure. What I look forward to most is how it impacted the heart of this woman. Let's continue as a team and the body of Christ to spread God's Kingdom to those in need.
As I was listening to Pastor John's message via podcast it really hit me how much all of these messages tie together. For example compassion breeds generosity. I began to see intentional generosity as an outworking of compassion. Some times I think it is easy to separate or compartmentalize our lives but this has served as another reminder to me how interconnected these things really are and in such a practical way. It causes me to not get caught up in the checks and balances of have "I been generous?" or "Was i compassionate enough this week?" but instead causes me to think "Did I use every opportunity that was put before me?" Either to honor, love, accept ect. Did I look like Jesus?
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