Through God's eyes

1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

Many of us have conflicts with people we love most. Husbands, wives, children, parents, friends -- we complain to the Lord about our suffering and beg for Him to touch and change the situation so that we can be one big happy family again.

Here's a question. Have we cried out for that person's heart like the Lord has cried out for ours while we were yet sinners? Have we suffered and bled in tears and intercession? That is what the Lord did for us while we were nailing Him to the cross.

We need to have the same heart for those who trouble us as the Lord has for us daily. He bleeds and weeps over us and intercedes to no end. How much more should we be doing the same?

Dear Lord, help us to get Your heart on the matter! Help us see those who hurt us through Your eyes of compassion.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Compassion

John 10:28 (ESV)

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

I read a story about a new young partner in a law firm. The senior partners had set extremely high standards and had coached him carefully. He did well in some minor trials but he lost his first big case. When the partners reviewed the trial, they pointed out his errors and suggested different strategies. Even with all their critique, he lost the next big one. He felt terrible. Were they ready to give him the boot?

Then one of the partners took him aside. "Look," he said, "you're learning. Just keep going. You'll start winning. Meanwhile, your position is secure. You're one of us." Those words were exactly what he needed to hear.

Have you ever experienced this kind of compassion when you were feeling hopeless? If we’re believers, we have. The Lord has taken us aside and said, “Yeah, you’ve made some mistakes, but don’t worry -- your position is secure.

Know that God has provided your security today. Rest assured in Him -- and be sure to convey that same kind of compassion to struggling siblings in the faith. All of us need to be reassured once in a while.

Dear Lord, thank You that You have showed great compassion to each one of us.  Help us share the same compassion to those around us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Do They See Christ in You?

Matthew 7:16 (NIV)

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

Do you ever find yourself wondering of you are making a difference in this world? Do you find yourself often discouraged and at times shocked about your lack of zeal? Has this question ever haunted the recesses of your mind: "Do people see Christ in me?"

But what if fruit is not forthcoming?

As long as we remain in only an intellectual understanding of Christ, we will never be satisfied. Words are nice, but they are worthless when compared to genuine love. The ones who shine for Christ are not those who talk about God (Pharisees talked about God a lot and see what they did to His Son!), but are those who follow the footsteps of Jesus and love like He does. After all, Christianity can all be summed up in the word "love". If love is non-existent in us, we don't know Jesus personally! (See 1 John 5:2)

Only if we decide to start loving others unselfishly will we begin to have a purpose in life, and this is a consequence of knowing Jesus intimately. People will notice that we have encountered the One named love (Jesus). "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV2)

During World War II the Nazis turned Russian prisoners into slave workers. Their living conditions were atrocious and they barely received any food. None of them could last very long. If they made it through an entire year, they were the lucky ones. Hopeless and discouraged, these slaves often tried to escape. And why not? They were going to die anyway!

The Nazis threatened severe punishments to anyone who offered aid to these slaves. What would we do if we lived in Jersey, for example, and we encountered such a fugitive?

Would we denounce him?

No, we are not that kind of people!

Maybe we would give him some well-meant advice?

But that wouldn't really be of any help to him, would it!

Would we consider sheltering him?

Louisa Gould did. She sheltered Feodor Burriy, known also as "Bill", for a period of two years! Imagine the drain on her food resources! Already she was living with very little. Still, she couldn't help but reach out to this hopeless man.

In May 1944 she and her family were denounced. Her brother survived the cruelties of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, but Louisa perished in the gas chambers of Ravensbruck in February 1945.

And what of Bill? Thanks to this caring family, he was able to escape.

Would they have done differently if they had known they would end up in a concentration camp? Not if they were motivated by genuine love, for genuine love does not make exceptions! Genuine love would have still helped that poor slave worker with no hesitation whatsoever.

Louise and her family were not the only ones who helped fugitive slaves. On March 1966, the USSR presented gold watches to twenty of the Jersey islanders for their compassion towards these Russian slave workers.

If we had lived in Jersey during World War II, would we have been amongst the recipients of those gold watches?

The problem is, love can never be genuine if it doesn't come directly from God: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2, NIV2) We have to be willing to be open vessels for the glory of God. We must depend solely on the One who is our gardener. After all, He is the only One who can help us become "even more fruitful".

Through Him, once we know Him intimately, we won't be able to resist the inner urge to "Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, NIV2)

Only then will we do as follows: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV2)

Are we willing to reach out to the hopeless ones that are all around us?

Dear Lord, help our hearts be open to showing the love and compassion that You have shown to us. Helps us be Your hands and feet today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Some Lessons I have learned from Diamond (my dog)

Genesis 1:24 (New International Version)

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.

After the hurricanes of 2004 Diamond found herself homeless, hungry and wandering the streets of Central Florida. She found herself unwanted and picked up by the Human society. With that all behind her our dog Diamond doubtless feels blessed to be part of our loving home. But I feel more blessed to have her, primarily because he is such a great role model. It's funny, but I have learned quite a bit about myself, my family, and life in general from our four-legged friend. Diamond was a stray, and it breaks my heart to think someone didn't want her or gave up looking for her. We realized right away of her terrible past as we brought this skinny little dog home and she immediately went to the back yard and curled up against the fence, not realizing that her new home was behind the door of the house. Now she thinks that she is the queen of the house. Her job is to protect us and her house, even if the person is walking down the other side of the street.

On many occasions I have struggled because of my back pain, it is during those times that you will find Diamond laying near me with concerned eyes constantly watching. It is as if she understands that I am in pain and she wants to be there for me to help in whatever way she can.

There have been times when I have been upset with her and scolded her for something she should not have done, only to feel terrible afterwards because she would look at me with those loving eyes that begged forgiveness. And yet if I asked her to come to me, she would come running with excitement and wagging her tail like crazy. I wish I could forgive as easily and as fast.

She always has time for his "Mommy" and "Daddy," and when we come home from work, she is so excited to see us. Never ashamed to show her love or affection, she is always eager to give it freely. Whether it's playing games or lying around watching television, she acts as though her whole universe revolves around us, and she only wants to make us happy. If only I too could learn to make others feel that loved and needed.

When times are hard, it is Diamond that comforts us when no one else was around. Somehow knowing of the emotional pain. I sure wish I had as much compassion for others.

Someone once said: "My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." Well, my goal in life is to be the kind of person that I know my dog is.

Dear Lord we thank You for the lessons that we can learn from the things around us. Today we thank You for the animals that You created for our enjoyment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Compassion

Psalm 103:13 (New International Version)

 As a father has compassion on his children,

   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Seven-year-old Jonathan Slack of Orland Park, Illinois, was moved when he saw a homeless woman holding a sign that said she and her child had no place to live.

Maybe "moved" is too small a word for what Jonathan felt.

First, he cried, then he decided to do something. The first thing he wanted to do was go back into town so he could give the lady his six dollars. His second idea was to ask President Obama to take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

Jonathan's mother suggested they might try to take up a collection. He agreed.

Jonathan canvassed the neighborhood and asked people to pitch in. Amazingly, with only ten days to go before Christmas -- busy people, financially strapped people -- responded with incredible generosity.

By the time Jonathan was done, over four truckloads of food and toys had been donated -- food and toys that were then sent to the Su Casa Catholic Worker Community's homeless shelter in Chicago.

Now there are a lot of ways this devotion could go. We could talk about how people were moved by the compassion of a young boy. We could speak of the plight of the homeless and our responsibility to help them as Christians.

What we would like to say is this: the Lord can use people who don't say, "no", to Him. He can accomplish great and wonderful things when people are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

He can use an exiled prince to lead His people out of slavery; He can take a small shepherd boy and turn Him into a king. He can use a willing maiden from Nazareth to bring about the birth of the Savior and fulfill His plan to buy back a lost world.

"What can He do with . . . Me, What can He do with… You?" Imagine what just might happen if we set aside our limitations and did what we could to reach out to the lonely; if we gave to the needy; if we prayed for our pastor.

What would happen if we were willing to do our part?

Dear Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to save us. Now we pray that You will use us to accomplish Your work. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Spilled Coal.

Hebrews 13:16 (New International Version)

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

The dirty gray clouds hung so low it seemed you could reach up and touch them. It was spitting a few flakes of snow and the temperature was in the 20s.

The winter of 1940 was cold in the mountains. It was a bone chilling, face freezing, penetrating kind of cold.

Lilly was going about her morning chores in the warmth of her home, when she heard a knock on the door. Opening it, there stood Mr. Gibson, her neighbor.

"Come in out of the cold." She opened the door wide for him. "Is everything ok? How is your wife?" Lilly asked. Mrs. Gibson had cancer and was confined to her bed most of the time. "She is about the same. I have come to ask a favor. We are almost out of wood for the stove and wondered if you had some to spare until we get our welfare check?"

Lilly didn't know how to respond. Her wood supply was pretty low and her husband was gone for the week at a job sixty miles away. Thinking about the severe cold, she wondered if she would have enough wood for herself.

She told Mr. Gibson she would see what she could do and be back in touch. Her sister lived a couple of blocks away and she would find out if she had any coal or wood to spare. Lilly bundled up warmly and made the trek to her sister's house. Sitting in the kitchen with a hot cup of coffee, the sisters talked about what to do for the Gibsons. June told Lilly she had very little extra wood to burn as the weather had turned so cold, the stove seemed to eat it like tissue paper.

They didn't have enough money to buy wood for the Gibsons but Lilly had an idea. The railroad tracks were not far away. Train cars loaded with coal sometimes spilled coal on the tracks. Maybe they could take a sack and borrow a wagon from one of June's sons and pick up some coal. It was a plan.

They put on all the clothes and scarves they could find and got the wagon and a tow sack before going out in the bitter cold. They walked down the tracks and put whatever coal they found into the sack. The icy wind brought tears to their eyes, which froze on their faces. When they reached the unloading depot, a man was on top of a box car of coal. He would shovel the coal down a chute to a waiting truck.

The man greeted the ladies and remarked what a cold day it was. He asked why they were out in the frigid weather. They told him they were picking up coal to burn.

The man lifted his large coal filled shovel and then turned the shovel sideways pouring the coal on the ground. Twice more he spilled his shovel of coal on the ground. He told them he was clumsy and the coal he couldn't get in the chute was just left on the ground to go to waste.

Next he climbed down the ladder and muttered he needed a cup of coffee and would be back soon.

The women had just finished filling the sack when he returned with two cups of hot coffee for them. They took the coffee and thanked him profusely.

Lilly asked his first name, explaining she wanted to mention it in her prayers tonight.

The man smiled. "Do you think the Lord will bless me for spilling my employer's coal on the ground?"

June spoke up. "He will bless you for your act of kindness. He will bless you for keeping two elderly people warm during this cold spell. Not only will this coal warm their bodies, but it will also warm their hearts. Yes, you will be blessed."

Thanking him again, they left.

Somehow the trip home didn't seem as far. They took turns pulling the wagon now heavy with coal, but their hearts were much lighter.

Upon reaching the Gibson home, the four friends held hands while they thanked God for the total stranger whose act of kindness had helped them accomplish their mission.

The Gibsons had enough coal to last until the weather broke and their check arrived.

Dear Lord we pray that we would have hearts of compassion. We pray that our eyes would be open to the needs of those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Voice of Compassion

Deuteronomy 15:7 (New International Version)

 7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

I read a story about Fiorello LaGuardia who was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII. He was adored by many New Yorkers who took to calling him the "Little Flower," because of his name and the fact that he was so short and always wore a carnation in his lapel.

He was a colorful character -- he rode the New York City fire trucks, raided city "speakeasies" with the police department, took entire orphanages to baseball games and, when the New York newspapers went on strike, he got on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.

One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving.

But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, Your Honor," the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson."

LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said, "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous hat, saying, "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore, I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day, New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered woman who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Fifty cents of that amount was contributed by the grocery store owner himself, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

Someone beautifully said, "Sympathy sees and says, 'I'm sorry.' Compassion sees and says, 'I'll help.'" When we learn the difference, we can make a difference.

Dear Lord we pray that we would be people of compassion and not just people of sympathy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Right Thing to Do.

Romans 12:10 (New American Standard Bible)

 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Darius and Johntel have a lot in common.

They are both talented high school seniors. They both love basketball. They are both captains of their respective high school basketball teams.

But on one Saturday night in February, they were forever linked in the minds of all who were present for a mutual act of courage, sportsmanship and respect.

The remarkable moment came during a game between Darius's small town Illinois team and Johntel's big city team in Wisconsin -- a game that almost wasn't played.

Just hours before tip-off Johntel's mother lost her five-year battle with cervical cancer.

Her death was sudden and devastating to all who knew her, and Johntel's coach wanted to cancel the game. But Johntel insisted that the game should be played, and so with heavy hearts his teammates prepared to honor their captain's wishes and to play -- and hopefully win -- without him.

What they weren't prepared for was Johntel's appearance in the gym mid-way through the first half.

As soon as he saw him, Johntel's coach called a time out, and players and fans surrounded the grieving young man to offer love and support. The coach asked him if he wanted to sit on the bench with the team.

"No," Johntel said. "I want to play."

Of course his team was thrilled to have him.

But because Johntel wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in the game at that point would result in a technical foul and two free throws for the opposing team.

Johntel's coach was OK with that. He could see that this was the teenager's way of coping with his loss -- the points didn't matter.

The opposing team understood the situation and told the referees to let Johntel play and to forget the technical foul. The referees argued that a rule is a rule, and the free throws would have to be taken before the game could proceed.

For possibly the first time in basketball history, officials had to force a team to accept and take the technical free throws.

As team captain, Darius volunteered to take the shots.

One would have expected he was looking for an opportunity to keep his team close in a hard-fought game against a big city school. Or one could even assume he wanted a chance to add a couple of points to his personal statistics.

In either case, one would be wrong.

Darius took the ball from the official, looked at the basket and calmly shot the ball.

Now, basketball purists know that the free throw line is 15 feet from the basket. Darius's first shot only traveled about 4 feet. His second shot only traveled 2.

Immediately Johntel and his teammates understood what Darius was doing. They stood and applauded the gesture of sportsmanship as Darius made his way back to his bench. So did all of the big city fans.

"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," Darius told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the game. "It was the right thing to do."

For those who are concerned about such things, Johntel's team rode the emotion of the night to a 15-point victory. But as the two teams met after the game for pizza and sodas, nobody on either side was too concerned with wins or losses or personal stats.

"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Darius's coach said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."

Dear Lord we pray that we would have the compassion to those around us just as we have read in todays story. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Lesson Learned from a Puppy

Zechariah 7:9 (New International Version)

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale."

Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. The boy looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

We ALL need someone who understands!  And Jesus UNDERSTANDS!

Dear Lord we thank You for showing compassion to us. We pray that we would show that same compassion to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

His Compassions Never Fail

Matthew 14:14 (New International Version)

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

On September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell stepped into a Pentagon hallway when the fireball from the hijacked plane hit him. After recovering from the initial shock, Birdwell realized he was on fire. "Jesus, I'm coming to see you," he remembers praying.

When doctors finally attended to him at the Washington Burn Center, they found second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of Birdwell's body. To save him, they performed several skin graft operations.

On September 13, while lying in his bed in the burn center, Laura Bush visited Brian's room and spoke to him for about a minute, all the time as if they were life-long acquaintances. She then turned to Brian's wife, Mel, who had been at the hospital for about two-and-a-half days. She was dirty, grimy, and wore a bloodstained shirt. Despite this, Laura gave her a long hug, as if she were a close family member. Laura then told them that there was "someone" there to see him.

The President walked in. Standing by Brian's bedside, the President told Colonel Birdwell that he was very proud of them both and regarded them as heroes. The President then saluted Brian. Brian slowly began to return the salute, taking about 15 to 20 seconds to get his hand up to his head because of his bandaged arms. During all of this, President Bush never moved. He dropped his salute only when Brian was finished with his.

Birdwell lives now with renewed purpose. "I'm a walking miracle. Christ got me out of the fire. In him not taking me, that means I have a mission to complete. He'll tell me what it is in due time."

Our Lord is a compassionate God, one who is with us in our most hurting times. He is one who knows our pain and one who can deliver us for a purpose.

Dear Lord we thank You for Your compassion towards us. We pray that we would always be faithful to You and compassionate to  those You bring into our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be Compassionate

James 5:11 (New International Version)

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born prematurely on August 7, 1963. His father, President John F. Kennedy, knew his second son's chances of survival were slim. Young Patrick had a lung ailment and he was rushed by ambulance to Children's Medical Center in Boston. The President visited the hospital four times a day worrying about his wife Jackie while being concerned about the baby as well.

On the night of August 8, Kennedy decided to sleep at the hospital to be near the baby. Around two o'clock in the morning, the President was awaken and told that Patrick's condition was taking a bad turn. As the President was waiting for the elevator, he saw a baby boy in a room that was badly burned. He asked the night nurse how it happened, and how many times the mother came to see the baby. The nurse answered "everyday." He then asked for her name and while his own son was down stairs dying, the President stopped to write a note to the lady telling her not to give up faith, and to keep up her courage.

Then for the next two hours, the President kept a lonely vigil over his son until he died and then Kennedy wept.

If a mere man-even a president-can show love and concern to an unknown child while his own son was dying, how much more will our infinite Father in heaven take concern in us. Today in prayer, thank God that He loves you and His compassion is infinite towards you.

"Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart." - Washington Irving

Dear Lord we pray today that we would show compassion to those you bring into our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are You showing Compassion ?

In his book "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" Steven Covey relates a personal experience while on the New York subway. The passengers were sitting quietly in the subway car, when a man entered with children who were extremely noisy and active. To Covey's surprise, the man (who was obviously the father) sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring the loud and rambunctious children. He sat as though he were oblivious to them! The subway car was ringing with chaotic noise. The children's behavior was way out of line, and everyone was getting agitated - except the father.


Finally, Covey leaned over and spoke to the man about his children. The father opened his eyes and seemed to finally grasp the situation.


"Oh, you're right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don't know what to think, and I guess they don't know how to handle it either."


Covey learned that often we leave compassion out of our daily ministry. Oftentimes we would do best if we looked past the initial appearance.

What a great challenge to open our eyes to those around us and show compassion. Look for somebody today that you can show compassion to.


7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
- Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (New International Version)


Dear Lord thank you for showing compassion to us, We pray that our eyes would be open to those around us so that we can show compassion to them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Do You Show Compassion?

The dean was speaking at a faculty meeting. One of the professors stood up and asked, "What must I do to get tenure?" The dean replied, "What does the faculty manual say?" The professor answered, "Do good research, teach well, and mentor students." "You have answered correctly," the dean replied. "Do this and you will get tenure."

But the professor wanted to justify himself, so he asked the dean, "What does it mean to mentor students?" In reply the dean said: "One term there was a student who was struggling in his courses. He went to talk about it to the professor of one of his classes, but the professor brushed him off with, "If you can't handle the work, you should drop the course." The student then went to his academic advisor, but she was on her way out the door to the airport and didn't have time to talk. A custodian overheard the conversation, and, seeing the discouragement of the student, invited him out for a cup of coffee. It turned out the student was dealing with the death of a family member, and the stress was affecting his personal life as much as his studies. The custodian walked him to the counseling center and arranged an appointment for him. He called the student several times in the next few weeks to see how things were going, and helped him think through whether to drop the courses or not. Now, which one of these was the true mentor to the student?" The professor replied, "The one who had mercy on him." The dean told him, "Go and do likewise."

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

- Luke 10:30-37 (New International Version)

Dear Lord, we pray that we will have the same compassion that You have. Help us to show love to those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Clothed With Compassion

"Wonder what I'll need to wear to that meeting?" Paul reminds us that there is a set of clothing that is always in style. We wear this clothing because we are special. This clothing is from the Ultimate Designer's collection that is called character and is best worn when with other people. These qualities are hard to wear, but always a blessing to those who meet us when we're decked out in this wardrobe.

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

— Colossians 3:12

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us into your family. May we never disappoint you in the way we treat others. May they see in us the qualities of character that can be attributed only to your presence in our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.