Christ's Compassion (pt.1): Valuing Others

The word compassion can be defined as a strong sympathy felt for a suffering people and an equally strong feeling to alleviate that suffering. Upon hearing this definition of the word compassion, one can easily and quickly argue that this is a rather appropriate definition of Christ's entire life before, during, and after his time here on Earth. In spite of all the degradation taken upon himself, inflicted by those He came to save out of love, He suffered even before his death and was not given the proper acknowledgement for who He was. Knowing this, before and during his life here on Earth, He still chose to fulfill the destiny set before him by his Father. It was nothing but love and true friendship that caused him to do what he did. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:11‭-‬13) He ultimately gave and gave until he could give no more but his life… and He did.

Paul explained to one of his favorite churches, found in Phillipi, that we should follow the example of Jesus and be compassionate. Paul gave an example of compassion being one who “in humility values others above themselves.”(Philippians 2:3). He encourages them by telling them that God rewarded Jesus for his compassion and, as such, He would reward the followers of Jesus if they follow the example that Jesus gave with his own life. 

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God's Glory: Darkness to Light

When life beats you down and you become upset, just think of how Jesus, in all his glory, was the Savior, the Lord, the Christ, and He was literally beaten down as well as being verbally abused. Think of how He must have felt knowing that He was to save all people, even those who were putting him down; to know that He has the power to help or to destroy them, yet He chose to be one of the lowly and to walk with those as well.

During times of being put down, because Jesus knows how we feel, He extends his hands to you so that He can help you. Some may get lost in the alliteration of the situation but what this means is by taking Jesus' hand we are following His way and when we follow His way, we have His power in us. Power over death, power over sin, power over the devil.

As we receive this power and allow it to grow by continuing to walk in His way, we receive glory that is brighter than the Sun. Glory that is so contagious that it will spread to others. Glory that is so intense that those who do not understand will have to look away and hide their faces, because then they will have to realize that they are in darkness. But what is in the darkness must come to the light eventually. Weeping and pain may endure for the night [in the darkness], but joy comes in the morning [with the Light].(Psalm 30:5)

God’s glory is all around us. We may have difficulty discerning it, but it’s there always. If we have ever seen it, we should know it’s power and how great it is. When times are difficult and the Light is hard to see, we should let faith “kick in”, for it is the “substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.”(Hebrews 11:1)

Therefore, if we do not have a solution in sight for a problem, we must trust faith to define and/or give us confidence that there will be a way for us to make it through. Look to God for his love and his glory in expectancy that His grace and mercy will be sufficient to bring us out from the muck and mire of life and into His glory, into his marvellous Light...the Joy in the morning! This Light...this Glory is there! Seek and ye shall find!

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Boldly Before the Throne

“ Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 KJV

To be bold means to be daring, courageous. Not hesitating or fearful in the midst of danger or situations containing an unknown resolution.

What would we have to fear? Why would we hesitate? To be in the presence of He who created all things, who has all knowledge and power. Power to do what He so chooses at a whim, and knowledge of all our faults and thoughts. To come before Him would be ever so slightly[sarcasm]... intimidating. Yet this scripture says, “ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne,...” When we think of a throne, we think of a King or Queen or someone who has power and control. Perhaps one who has control of important aspects of our lives- finances, food, clothes, shelter, or even whether we live or die. For some, that throne maybe the La-Z-Boy in the living room, and the ruler, if you will, was Mama or Daddy, and all things mention were under their control from the food and shelter to life and death. The latter because of the phrase “I brought you into this world and…” That was something to fear. But I digress. This fear would be more so an awe-inspired respect. To know what the King has done and is capable of doing should slow us down, if but for a moment, to give him the impression that we are giving Him his just due. To come boldly would show confidence in a situation of unknown resolution. But is the resolution really unknown? Upon showing our confidence or being bold, we do so, not based upon our own merit, but…

Though Jesus.

Hebrews 10:19,20 says,”Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh…”

Once again we are told of the boldness. This passage verifies that it is solely by the blood of Jesus that we can be bold in the first place. Throughout Hebrews, there is mentioned a reference to Jesus as being likened unto a high priest. But the greatest difference was that Jesus was perfect. Never had their walked such a man as He. Not only perfect in his ways, but He Himself becoming the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Giving intercessions for us, providing us a way to have relationship with the Father and Eternal Life. And for this, He was the perfect sacrifice...

For us.

If and when we accept the blood, accept the sacrifice and realize why we needed it, we become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” We have a new life, a new direction, a new method of reaction towards things and people that, simply put, rub us the wrong way. He has consecrated this newness or made it sacred and holy because He Himself is Holy. It’s like the Midas touch. Everything it touched turned to gold. Well, everything that Jesus touched with His life became new. It became better than it ever could be and we can be the same way if we just open our hearts and open our minds to the sacrifice- the acceptance and giving through normally unbearable circumstances. His body, much like the veil in the temple, was broken, torn and fell. And because of this, we have been given access to a new life, a new direction, new grace, new mercy, new help, new healing, new sight, new love, new joy. Old things are passed away, and through Christ's perfect blood, we too are made new and can therefore, boldly come before the throne of grace…

With God.

Where Is the Church? (pt.1) Christian Duty

"We've got to go and be a witness

To save the lost and fallen from the hit list.
Get this, give them total Truth, so they never will forget this
And they can claim a place where Holy bliss is..."

It is the responsibility of believers to bring souls to Christ. It is our mandate from God. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus declares that if we follow him, He will make us fishers of men- seeking to bring souls to Christ. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God and given a new life as new Creatures. How dare we deprive an unbeliever of the same Christ who saved our wretched souls from a deserved punishment. Who are we to the unbeliever but one whom not so long ago was standing in the same guilty place yearning inside for the scent of atonement? 

"For all have sinned and come short of Gods glory." (Romans 3:23) Therefore, we by ourselves were not good enough. We were not deserving, except by Jesus interceding for us and enduring the Cross whereby we were saved. We are no better than anyone on Earth- man, woman, boy, girl, black, white, saved, or unsaved. We are not perfect. Yet He who was, and still is perfect, saved us. 

Nothing elevates one above another, therefore we are all equal. Sinners needing God's grace. There is no one sin greater than the others. Sin is sin, and if one keeps the Law of God and sin not, save one sin, he still transgresseth the Law. (James 2:10). This verse, in a way, puts us all on a level playing field- all sinners seeking God's grace. We, as Christians though, are to help align the minds of the lost to realize how they can be found, and given newness.

If we are privy to the knowledge of someone falling to sin, it is only our place to help them and not judge. Because the same standard of judgment that we use against them shall be therein used against us. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (KJV) tells us sanctify the Lord in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason  of the hope that is in you with meeknes and fear: Having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they might be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. The NIV translates this verse by saying to revere Christ, and be ready to explain why you have hope. But to do so with gentleness, respect, and a clear conscience. Thus, causing those who spoke evil against you to be ashamed. Also, doing so would make us like Christ in word and deed, and give a good testimony and example as to what really being a Christian is all about.....

(We will revisit this topic in part 2 of this series. Until then we would like to invite you to follow us on social media. Thank you again for reading and God bless!)

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