A Greater Level of Love & Compassion
Today, in my time with the Lord, I find myself crying out for greater compassion and love. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I struggle with anger or hatred. It's just that... as I weigh my level of love against that of the Lord's... it's embarrassing how much it wanes in comparison. I know... how do we compare our humanness to His perfection? We can't, but we can ask for more of His compassion, grace and love to be revealed through us. Both the world and God's hurting children need to see it and experience it in us.
The kind of love that I'm talking about is selfless...it feels their pain and is moved with His compassion to pray for the hurting until the breakthrough comes and minister to them in the midst of their darkest hour. It's not selective of who is deserving of it...it doesn't even consider that...it flows out of our heart and is revealed by both prayer and deeds. It's not something we have to force ourselves to do, but it's who we become by the Spirit of God.
So today... I'm asking for fresh fire to melt the hard areas of my heart, remove selfishness and possess me with the heart of God. Though life may have hardened us in so many ways, His healing power is there, to not only bring healing to our fleshly wounds, but also the brokenness of our hearts. His love for us must then be expressed and revealed through us.
Jesus looked at the multitudes and was moved with compassion. That multitude was filled with ALL types of people.. both sinners and lovers of God. How many people groups do we judge instead of allowing the heart of God to move us to pray for their deliverance? It's not enough to just be a lover of God... we must have a deeper love and compassion for people... no matter how hurt, broken, sin filled and angry they may be! Let love and compassion be your motivating force for ministry, relationship and prayer... without it, it's just empty words.
1 John 4:16-17 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
