Today’s principle focus is on Compassion
Today’s Positive Affirmation and Encouraging Words to Live By:
“I am always available to help those in need.”
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 31:20
Think on this: While the proverb states “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” It could just as easily read: “Those who show compassion and reach out to the needs of others are wise.”
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21:15-17
ON A SCALE OF 1-10… (10 being the highest most confident in the area of compassion) How compassionate do you feel you are?
Today’s focus in on compassion, a compassionate person can always be found lending a hand to the needy. Even when we are in great need, we can still be compassionate to the needs of others. It is with the constant thought of giving that we can begin to see the needs of others.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. – Proverbs 31:20
This Principle in Action:
Jeff and Jessica Heilman: Personal Testimony
When my second son was an infant, my husband Jeff and I had to believe in God for a financial miracle. Jeff had been interviewing at different companies through out the Dallas area. One such company hired him and he was going to get paid more than double anything he had ever been paid before!
The financial miracle that we needed had to occur during the interim period, that somewhat scary period between no job and the first paycheck. We had no money in savings, and we were committed to living life debt free. As a couple, we had decided that we were going to “give our way out” and put God’s Word to the test. We came to an agreement for finances, and trusted that God alone would provide for us according to His riches in glory. We decided that no one needed to know about our situation. The Lord knew about our need, and we knew the need, that was it. Instead of borrowing were decided to pray, and let God give to us what we needed.
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. – Matthew 6:33 The Message
Armed with our understanding of sowing and reaping (Luke 6:38), instead of gathering all our pennies to spend, we did the opposite, and gave them away to those in need. I can remember paying a gasoline attendant 9$ in change for our gas in pennies, nickels, and dimes. Our funds had gotten that low. We didn’t know how God was going to do it, but whatever it was that He was going to do, and in whatever time He chose, we knew that He was our hero and capable of anything.
Saturday night before our first paycheck, I lay awake thinking to myself “Ok, it is 2 am. We have no more money and the baby is in his last diaper. We have a quarter of a tank of gas, and we wont get paid until next Friday. God, what else can I give?” My heart was fixed on the desire to give more, and more.
“Your prayers” God answered me simply, “You can still give to others through your prayers. Pray for the body of Christ, that it would be obedient. When the body gives to its members, no one will be in need of anything again.” He then took me to that scripture about Jesus and Simon Peter feeding the sheep. Jesus was programming Simon Peter’s mind to think compassionately towards others.
As a result of this word, I immediately began praying for everyone I knew, and those I didn’t know. I prayed for the church, the city, the Nation. I prayed that God’s people would begin to be obedient to their callings, and that they would be blessed, and successful. I prayed that all would receive the spirit of compassion and respond by caring for one another.
Sunday morning, Jeff and I woke up fresh and very much alive. We had survived to live another day! I was completely at ease, having prayed myself to sleep the night before. We figured that if we were going to go anywhere, church was where we needed to be. On the way to church we didn’t care that we didn’t have enough gas money to get home, or that Joseph was in his last diaper. We figured that God was going to deliver us one way or another, and if we had to walk home we would.
As soon as we got to the church, we were opening doors for people and letting others sit down before us. After church, we did our usual routine and picked up our boys and got into the car to head home. We started down the long driveway exiting the church, when we noticed a big burly man walking down the side of the driveway. This man was covered in black leather, completed with long hair and a beard. He looked very out of place at our traditional church.
Jeff immediately found compassion for a lone walker on the road and a lump rose in my throat as Jeff started pulling the car over to offer this “Hell’s Angel” looking man a ride.
Opening the door, the man smiled and was grateful for the assistance. I jumped over the center console and into the back of the car with the boys, and Jeff and the unnamed man began to chat.
This man was a trucker, and since the drive was so long and narrow he had to park his rig away from the church. He was a member of the motorcycle club in the church, and when he was in town he would come to church on Sunday. After a surprisingly delightful conversation we came to his rig and he said “Thanks”.
Smiling, we said that we were glad to do it. Then understanding that the man was going on another long haul, we grabbed some church sermons from the glove box to give him for his driving. We were still committed to “giving our way out, in to a miracle.”
“WOW! Thanks!” The man said, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Well,” Jeff gulped “Maybe if you could give us like five bucks for the tapes, so we can buy some gas, that would be great.”
“Mister, I can do better than that.” With that, I saw this big “scary” looking man pull out a hundred dollar bill from his pocket. “God told me to give this to you!”
After he did, everyone in the car started balling. We were all crying with joy! The unnamed man went on to say:
“Once, when I was really down on my luck a buddy of mine gave me a hundred dollar bill. When I finally got back on my feet, I went back to my buddy to repay him. He told me to keep the hundred dollars, and he said “Someday you will come across someone else who needs that hundred dollars, when you do, give it to them.”
This gentle giant went on to tell Jeff and me, “As soon as I heard your car misfiring on the driveway, I knew you needed help. You picked me up, and I know I am supposed to give this hundred dollars to you!”
WOW! How I had misjudged this messenger of God! When we all do our part to listen and act, it is the greatest thing to watch how we all relate to each other! We didn’t even need a hundred dollars! All we really needed was like twenty dollars to get us through the week. We immediately paid our tithes and then that hundred dollars not only bought us diapers, it bought us food, gas, and completely sustained us until payday! God had heard our prayers, felt our compassion towards others, and rewarded our obedience!
Practice having compassion today! I have told our “Hundred Dollar Testimony” dozens of times. If you practice reaching out to others in compassion, perhaps your blessing to others will be received in the very same way!
Today’s Key Take Away:
• Compassion is the key to the safety and security of the body of Christ. If we can listen to the Lord and give when we feel called to give, we will be participating in a miraculous giving cycle. You have no idea when you may be in need not just financially but for prayer, healing, or support. If you can practice compassion to others, you yourself will benefit greatest by creating a compassionate heart within yourself.
• How many times have you given something away, just to have something better given back to you? Let’s focus today on praying for others, and meeting needs. Enjoy the process of making others begin to feel complete.
Today’s Reflection: What did I learn about myself? What miracles have you known God to do for you? When was the last time you gave to someone in need? Where you genuine? What kind of needs do you see in your family, community, or Nation? Can you do anything about them? Have you prayed about them?
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