compassion Archives

Little Girl, Big Heart

Bickering, whining, squabbles… Selfishness can be clearly seen in little ones. Yet, there also can be moments of selflessness, kindness, compassion. Overall, you can get an idea of what kind of person this kid is growing to be.

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. – Proverbs 20:11.

I was impressed by the conduct and actions of a little girl this week. She lived long ago, but the purity of her heart has shone through centuries of history.

She was a slave girl.

Kidnapped when she was small.

Taken from her family, her town, her homeland.

She had to learn a new language and culture.

No one in this land worshipped the God she knew.

She was alone, and forced to serve the family of a rich, powerful commander.

If I were this little girl, I think I would hate the people who did this to me.

I wouldn’t wish any good upon them, or seek their well-being.

But that’s not what this little girl did.

We don’t know if they treated her well or poorly,

but she looked beyond her own situation and saw the suffering of her masters.

For all his wealth and military fame, her master was dying.

He had leprosy, an incurable disease.

The little girl did not rejoice at his calamity.

She didn’t smugly conclude that he got what he deserved.

Instead, she spoke to his wife with the clear, pure voice of a child,

“I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!
Then he would cure him of his leprosy!”

Not only did this captive child have a heart of compassion,

She had a heart of faith.

She trusted that God would heal her master through the prophet.

What happened next is another testament to her character.

Her master listened to her.

He didn’t brush her aside or say that she’s ignorant.

He must have seen in this little girl such an upright heart,

He was persuaded that her God could help.

You can read the rest of the story in 2 Kings 5,

But I hope at least you take away a greater appreciation

for this little girl,

for the parents who taught her from a very young age,

and for the great God that she trusted.

I want my heart to be as big as this little girl’s:

full of compassion and faith.

Adventure Awaits: Preparing for your next life transition.

Burden

Life has been heavy lately.

Maybe just a little more than usual, the world is groaning under the weight.

The horrible crimes, venomous words, and selfish attitudes are all over the news.

Sin is surging in our cities, communities, churches, homes, and even our own hearts.

Oh, it’s heavy.

How do you think God feels?

How does He react to the things going on?

After all, He knows more than any news outlet.

He doesn’t need camera footage to figure out what happened.

He sees and knows every. single. horrific. detail….. in the lives of 7.8 billion people.

God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
Ps. 7:11

How heavily this must weigh on the God of justice and mercy.

His tender, compassionate heart is torn by the evil of the world.

Way back when, in a time similar to today, God used a shepherd to warn His people.

A shepherd cares and looks out for dense and defenseless sheep.

This shepherd’s name is Amos – his name means burden.

In this point in time, God is sending a caring shepherd to tell His burden for His people.

He’s given them chance after chance to turn back from their evil ways.

They’ve rejected Him over and over.

So He’s sending His burden to them YET AGAIN.

I can’t get over His mercy! He really, really doesn’t want them to perish, as anguished as He is by their sin.

Behold, I am weighted down beneath you.
Amos 2:13

Burden (Amos) warns the people of all the judgment that will come upon them for their sin.

But the plea has no effect.

They push back on God again.

The priest of the false god complains about Amos to the king:

“the land is unable to endure all his words.”
Amos 7:10

The people can’t bear to hear about the weight of their own sin.

They don’t want to recognize the reality of how awful they’ve been.

And because they can’t see it, they can’t get rid of it.

This is the reality for so many people today.

They can’t see their sin, and they can’t see the dark, billowing judgment looming over them.

The Just and Merciful God loves us rebellious people so much…. He has shouldered the burden Himself.

He was crushed for our iniquities.
Isaiah 53:5

I’m thankful today that even in a hopeless, blinded world, there’s a God who is burdened for us.

He has taken it upon Himself to do everything possible for us to be free of the weight of our sin.

He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4

What a beautiful heart.

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No One Cares.

This season has affected everyone.

Depression. Anxiety. Loneliness.

For some, this season has only exacerbated an underlying condition.

How many people are crying out on the inside:

“No one cares for my soul!”

Helpless.

Alone and afraid.

That’s how some sailors felt on the Mediterranean so many years ago.

They had faced many storms, but this one was fierce.

They feared for their lives.

They cried to their gods, but no help came.

So when they found a man named Jonah asleep in the hold of the ship, they told him to get up and call on his god.

“Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 1:6

Is anyone concerned about you?

People look for love, care, and help from their family, from a spouse, from a good friend.

But sometimes, those people just can’t help you.

Sometimes, they go away.

But God.

The God of the universe is concerned for your soul.

Let that sink in.

There is no one more powerful and able to come to your aid.

None more loving and kind.

You have the best in God.

See how He introduces Himself:

Compassionate and gracious
Slow to anger and
abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
Exodus 34:6

The sailors didn’t know God. But Jonah did.

In fact, that’s why he was running away.

God told him to warn the Ninevites of the impending destruction for their evil works.

A cruel, violent people, they had oppressed Israel for years.

Jonah didn’t want to warn them of God’s judgment, because he knew God was compassionate and gracious.

He would relent from destroying them if the Ninevites turned from their ways.

And that’s just what happened.

God showed His great compassion.

He was concerned for the souls of the sailors.

He cared for the evil Ninevites.

He loved people that didn’t know or care that He existed.

God also was concerned for Jonah.

He loved His child who was still rebellious – even though he had tasted of the Lord’s goodness.

In whatever darkness you might be walking through…

are you calling upon the Compassionate God?

Do you urge others to call upon Him?

He cares for every soul.

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Out of your league

“He’s out of your league.”
(ever heard that??)

Ouch.
But, what if that didn’t matter?

I’ve got an impossible love story for you this Valentine’s Day.
First, all the reasons why it shouldn’t work out:
She’s new in town; he’s established and reputable.
She’s dirt poor; he’s filthy rich.
She’s young; he’s quite a bit older.
She’s a foreigner; he’s privileged.

Yet they are destined to meet.
While she’s out scavenging for food one day,
He takes notice of her.
Sweaty, dirty, a hot mess.
He could have passed her by.
She’s just another poor person.

But he seeks after her.
He asks about her, then he speaks to her.
Don’t go anywhere else.
Stay with me here in my field.
I will provide for you.
I will protect you.

At mealtime, he invites her to sit close.
He serves her.
She eats, and is satisfied.
And she has some left over.

What a love story.
He goes on to sacrifice himself for her.
He redeems her and makes her his forever.

This Valentine’s day you might be experiencing an impossible love story.
I hope you are.

Because
every.
single.
person.
can have this love story.
(every married person, too).

There is Someone who is outrageously out of your league.
He’s so rich.
He’s so honorable.
He’s so privileged.
He’s so much more advanced than you (in years, in wisdom, in everything).

But He’s also SO GOOD.
SO compassionate.
He’s incredibly gracious and kind-hearted.
Because of that… He has taken notice of you!

He sees you, wherever you may be, in whatever state you are,
Whether you’re a hot mess on the outside or not…
(cuz, I gotta tell ya, He KNOWS you’re a hot mess on the inside!)
And He LOVES you.

He doesn’t want you to go anywhere else – just stay with Him in His field.
He will protect and provide for you.
This wonderful, extraordinary, impossibly-good Lover humbles Himself to serve you.
He tells you to take Him in, be satisfied. There will be more left over.
He sacrifices Himself for you.
He redeems your soul, taking you from the depths of depravity and deprivation
To His glorious home.
To be with Him, forever.

That’s an impossible love story.
One that can be yours.

Let Him love you.

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