Compassion never fails
Deuteronomy 10:1, “At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.”
When Moses came down off the mountain, after being with God for forty days the first thing he saw was the Israelites bowing down and worshipping a man-made image. He was infuriated, and rightfully so in his mind; even we can understand why He got so mad. Most true followers of Christ have been in situations similar to Moses. Maybe you just heard a particularly moving sermon, and when you get home one of the first things you see is a newspaper article about the rapid increase of crime. Right then you might feel like going “postal”, but then you calm down and ask God how much longer He’s going to “put up” with the wicked people around you!
In Luke 9, the Apostles James and John, found themselves in a similar situation. Jesus was going to Jerusalem, and as He passed through Samaria the people did not welcome Him. James and John asked about calling fire down from Heaven to get rid of them. But Jesus rebuked James and John, “55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.” Jesus knew that these people, even though they had rejected Him, were no worse than the apostles that followed Him. Deep in our hearts their is evil in everyone. The Bible tells us that there is none who are righteous; there is no one who truly seeks God, but it is God who seeks us!
Jesus said that He came to seek the lost! Many times we forget that we were just as despicable to God as the vile people that we condemn, but God loved us even though we were repugnant to Him. It is all because of His love, and His compassion that any of us can be saved. The next time you get a “holier than thou” attitude, and wonder how much longer God is going to “put up” with these ungodly people I want you to do two things.
1.Remember the words of 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
2. Think about how wretched you were before God came in your life,and how grateful you are that He gave you time!
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Father, I thank You for loving me enough to send Your Son to find me, and I ask that You would help me remember that You saved me share Your love with a lost world. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 