“A believer in Christ has only to live faithfully in order to change the world, historian Christopher Dawson said, because in that very act of living “there is contained all the mystery of divine life.” Let’s ask God’s Spirit to empower us to live faithfully as Jesus’ people, shining His light in the world’s darkest places.”
I found this refreshing. It encourages us to live faithfully to God and walk in the world around us. When we live in close communion with Jesus, our lights naturally shine for others to see.
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
If I could make one first impression on people, my hope they would see me as a compassionate person. I want to be seen as someone who loves, cares and helps where they can.
When I read through the life of Jesus in the Gospels, I see many occasions where Jesus had compassion on the people. Every time I read of these things it bring tears to my eyes and a deep longing to my heart.
Here are just a few examples…
Mark 6:34 NLT Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Matthew 14:14 NLT Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Mark 1:41 NLT Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Luke 7:13-14 NLT When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. [14] Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”
Just in these examples we see Jesus had compassion on the people. He shepherded them, taught them, healed their sick and even raised the widows only son to life.
In Luke 6:36 NLT Jesus says, “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate”. This is something Jesus wants us to display to the world around us.
So what first impression do I want to make on people – I want to be seen as a compassionate person.
Today’s question is what book are you reading now? One I have just read and will read through again is Bruce Downes book Radical Forgiveness. Bruce is known as The Catholic Guy.
I read this book on Thursday in a couple of sittings and I think I will read it again before I have to return it. My sister sent it to me in the mail this week. It is one that she enjoyed and found very helpful.
One key for me that came through over and over is the saying “time heals all wounds”. Downes says this is not true.
We know in the natural, our physical wounds may heal in time, but wounds to our heart or soul need to be worked through. And part of the working through includes forgiving and letting go.
Downes says this forgiveness and letting go is often very hard, but it is essential for our relationships and our own future. Not only might it improve a fractured relationship, but it can actually allow us to live freer going forwards. It is like a weight lifted off us.
I have often heard that if we carry grudges against people for hurting us, it is like giving them free rent space in our heads. It is also like our computers RAM being taken up by programs running in the background. You just do not have the processing space to think clearly.
Downes’ book was a nice easy read. It was in simple language, had good examples and it used lots of Bibles passages that fit in nicely to illustrate his points. At 70 odd pages it is well worth a read.
If you are interested you can find it here on his website. Just to let you know I do not receive anything for this recommendation.
Matthew 6:14-15 NLT – “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Forgiveness is a lost art in some areas of society. People hold on to grudges and won’t let go. Sometimes for many years, sadly.
This is especially true in the online world. Small things get blown out of proportion. A simple slip of the tongue can lead to a hate campaign and people being deeply deeply offended.
One thing I have purposed in my heart to do is let forgiveness flow. As Martin Luther King, Jr said, “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude”.
As hard as it is sometimes, I have to remember people are imperfect humans who make mistakes. Jesus is the only One who walked the earth that is perfect. Everyone else is not.
Sometimes we have to admit to ourselves that yes we have been hurt or offended, but unforgiveness is not part of who we want to be as Jesus followers.
In the above passage, which comes right after the Lord’s prayer, we see that our forgiveness has implications for our own faith journey. Jesus said that if we want God to forgive our sins, we have to forgive others.
What? I have to forgive others to be forgiven. This is hard Christianity. This is where the rubber hits the road. But it is what Jesus wants for us. He wants us to let go of our pain and release forgiveness to others.
It is not an easy thing to do. In some cases it is impossible without God’s help. We have to be like David in the Psalms and be really honest with God. And then ask Him to help us to forgive and let go.
I know in my own life I have asked God to help me let go of long held unforgiveness and when I did, it was like a huge weight was lifted off me. I felt light for the first time in years.
How about you? Have you things you are holding on to? Is it time to ask God to help you let them go and forgive?
Prayer
Dear God, I do not want to hold unforgiveness in my heart. Please help me today to let things go. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me. I pray I can release forgiveness today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today in the world there is so much conflict and hatred going on. The Bible says these things will happen and it gives us some advice on how to handle it.
Matthew 5:43-48 TPT – “Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ [44] However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. [45] For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. [46] What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don’t even the tax collectors do that? [47] How are you any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends? Don’t even the ungodly do that? [48] Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like him.”
We see that there was a time when people where taught to love their neighbour and to hate those who hate them. In the passage above we see Jesus taught some different things.
Jesus said…
1. To love our enemies, not hate them.
2. To bless those who curse us.
3. To do something nice for them.
4. To pray for those who persecute us.
These four points are very clear and easy to understand. Yes, they are hard to do, but it is what Jesus wants us to do. Ultimately it is what best for us too.
We also see in the above passage that there are two things that happen as a result of this…
1. It helps to identify as God’s children.
2. It shows we are different from the world around us.
As Christians we should want to be identified as God’s children and shine our lights to the world around us. If we do the four things above when persecuted, we will shine God’s light and love to others.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to respond to persecution and hatred in the way You want me to respond. Help me to love others, pray for them and be a blessing to them. Help me to let my light shine and show I am different from those around me. In Your name, Amen.
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