Wednesday: Timeless Compassion
Christ was the embodiment of perfection; that is, all of God’s perfections were revealed in Him. Thus, was anyone ever more compassionate than Christ? Who possessed a stronger desire than Jesus to alleviate human distress?
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
We, therefore, ask: what relationship did Christ’s compassion and intercession have with discipleship?
Read Luke 22:31-32 and John 17:6-26 (see also Heb. 2:17). How did Jesus’ identification with humanity influence His intercessory prayers? What are the ultimate objectives of Christ’s intercessory prayers?
Jesus could effectively intercede on His disciples’ behalf because He was actively engaged in their lives, thoroughly understood them, and passionately desired their good. Effective intercession today demands nothing less. The twenty-first century disciple-maker will discard time-consuming pursuits that interfere with their relationships with lost souls. Making money, achieving fame, even educational excellence must become subservient to the greater goal of the redemption of the lost. This is an important truth that so easily slips from sight, because we are so often caught in the daily grind of living.
Jesus invested Himself in the lives of His disciples. He visited their homes, became acquainted with their relatives, spent leisure time in their company, and worked alongside them. Nothing significant to their lives escaped His notice. Disciple-making today requires more than tract distribution and airtight biblical argumentation. Praying in a sympathetic consciousness of another’s distress, and with a passionate desire to alleviate that distress, is still the standard of intercessory prayer in effective disciple-making.
Though it can sound quaint, there’s a lot of truth in the statement, People care little about what you know until they know how much you care.
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Compassion is often a difficult thing to show. I pray that the Lord will help me not only to feel and experience it. I pray that I will also effectively demonstrate it to others so that they can recognise that love and compassion as it flows from You and through me.
Intercessory prayer for others is what makes a disciple of Jesus Christ. Without it, you might as well hang it up.
But don't just have intercessory prayer. Discipleship is vital to a relationship with Christ. James 2:17 "So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead)." James 5:16 "Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man or woman, makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." From the Amplified Bible.
Yes this is where discipleship begins, with prayer and supplication at the Feet of Jesus. There He will teach us how to have invested interest in those we come in contact with. Compassion comes through spending casual time with family, friends and neighbors, and those we work with, and work for. It is not to late to make a resolution for this year. Spend more time in intercessory prayer, and all that goes with it.
[Edited] I must agree with Jackie about compassion for others! It's not easy to show compassion for others, but when you choose to walk in the will of God, it becomes a daily determination.
The last quote about caring for a person is deep because in order for us to bring someone into the knowledge and understanding of Christ, we must meet their needs first! I pray that we have a blessed week and continue to study His word diligently and grow stronger in faith!! God Bless!
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Many times the Lord does answer my prayers and I see the results. Only on one account the not healed of my daughter now 7yrs. She was stricken with eczema since 2011 till now. This is a pain, especial when seeing some results of my other prayers. Why one prayer is not answered? It is like not mantain the one and only road of a most precious point.
It is always hard to answer the question as to why God provides healing to some and not to others. One of the hardest funerals I ever attended was for a young relative who have fought disease for most of his life and lost the battle. At the same time I knew of others who had had the same disease and had been healed and were living normal lives. I do not know the answer but I live with the knowledge that in his suffering my young relative turned the hearts of many to Jesus.
The problem with sin is that the playing field is not level. God knows that and he has given ample evidence that he suffers with us. I still trust him.
Thank you Maurice Ashton, for real God knows all than man. Someone told me it is called Christianity when a believer is going through difficalties.