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Author
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Topic: Compassion
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Eden
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posted
I think that if someone regularly reads the Word of God (even if there are periods when that person does NOT read the Word of God), and if that same person LISTENS to the Holy Spirit now that we have access through Jesus's cross work to th Holy Spirit again, in my opinion that person would DEFINITELY become a SWEETER PERSON than he or she was before:
Exodus 15
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he {Moses} cried to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.
This tree is Jesus who by His Holy Spirit makes our Marah bitter spirits sweet. And with that sweeter spirit we will naturally show more compassion, just in our looks and more.
Eden
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
This message speaks to your discussion...
http://64.34.176.235/sermons/SID0290.mp3
Humanism is a poisonous, but oh so subtle enemy
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Aaron
unregistered
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eden:
But it is also true that others in the world NEED to see compassion and love shown to them, and it may be that God saves some of them that way.
Hi sister,
Of course it is true. Therefore, we should expect that He will lead us in ways where our obedience to Him demonstrates His compassion.
Do you see the distinction? When we work simply to fill the void of compassion then we become our own boss...who needs the Lord?...and our work may simply create a larger need. Yet, when we work at the behest our our Lord then it is His work that is being accomplished...and where there is the presence of the Lord there is freedom.
IMO, this is why the church is largely ineffective and dried out: they've followed their own direction and have spent their energy on work that has a semblance of "righteousness" but is foundationally not of the Lord. The operating command is "..as I have loved you." (doing the Father's will) not "wherever you seen need" (motivated by humanitarianism).
Aaron
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Eden
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posted
Hi, Aaron. You wrote:
"To all who need it"? So, we are compelled to act according to the perceived "need" of others? I think not.
We are compelled by the Spirit to obey our Father in Heaven. Isn't this what our Lord said: "love one another; as I have loved you..."
Eden here: Good point. I was also reminded of this verse:
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
But it is also true that others in the world NEED to see compassion and love shown to them, and it may be that God saves some of them that way.
MentorsRiddle, what does this compassion consist of? Do, like what, for instance? Smile? Say hello? Give money? Mow their lawn? How should Christians be showing this compassion?
Preaching and teaching Jesus to them is also showing compassion to them, isn’t it?
Love, Eden
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Eden
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posted
Hi, MentorsRiddle. You wrote:
“There are people in the world today suffering because of the choices they have made in life.”
Eden here: I would say ALL are suffering, for ALL are sinners and sinful and have thus and are thus making wrong choices. There is basically only ONE CHOICE that a sinner can make CORRECTLY and that is accepting Jesus so we don’t have to die for our sins. Even our choices after accepting Jesus still remain, mostly bad.
You also wrote:
“The majority of the time all it will take to steer people back onto the right path is for someone to show them altruistic compassion. When someone can see that there are people in the world that care for them it awakens something inside of them that they had forgotten. When they finally realize that good things can happen in their life it gives them the hope to pick themselves up from the pit they have dug for so many years, and start to live again. By bringing peace and joy into others life, you are in turn bringing joy and happiness into yours.”
Eden here: Usually we can best spread some love among our own circle of friends and family and/or the new people that we meet. And if God’s Spirit has made us sweeter, that sweetness will get noticed, or hated.
You also write:
“Unfortunately it is not always easy to be compassionate, especially to those who don’t truly want it. You must remember that you can not help others who don’t want to help their selves.”
Eden here: I agree. Jesus said, cast not your pearls before swine. There are a number of sons of Belial in the world who HATE good people. I once smiled at a large man and he turned on me, “what are you smiling at me for, f…..t” and it was dangerous what I had done. Once I was feeling such radiant joy that a man hit me in the face because I was having way too much fun compared to him, and he did not want to see what he could have been, through Jesus, for instance.
Some people will respond to love and they may desire it too. I am reminded of that verse in the Bible:
2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Are they asking? Are we that joyful that they are asking? Sometimes I am that joyful, but often I’m not so joyful that they are asking.
Be blessed, MentorsRiddle.
Eden
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Aaron
unregistered
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by TB125:
Aaron,
Are the "needs" Jesus cited in His Olivet discourse as recorded in Matthew 25:31-46 outside or somehow contrary to God's Spirit of love? I don't think so. I don't think that they are just "humanitarian" services.
Two issues here: the character of God and the obedience of the saints. Let's not confuse them.
I suppose, divorced from the context of being lead of the Spirit, all manner of works resembling those in the NT can be called "good". Yet, if we are lead of the Spirit (He still leads us, yes?) then only those things which He tells us to do are counted toward our obedience.
Aaron
P.S. And what is this "His Olivet discourse" nonsense? I mean, I know what it is but how on earth did you think it was appropriate here?
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TB125
Advanced Member
Member # 2450
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posted
Aaron,
Are the "needs" Jesus cited in His Olivet discourse as recorded in Matthew 25:31-46 outside or somehow contrary to God's Spirit of love? I don't think so. I don't think that they are just "humanitarian" services.
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Bob
Posts: 449 | From: Rockford Illinois | Registered: Nov 2003
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Aaron
unregistered
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by MentorsRiddle:
It is our job as Christians to spread compassion to all who need it. We have a direct commandment from Jesus Christ to spread love:
“A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
That ye also love one another.”
~Jesus Christ, The Book of John 13:34
"To all who need it"? So, we are compelled to act according to the perceived "need" of others? I think not.
We are compelled by the Spirit to obey our Father in Heaven. Isn't this what our Lord said: "love one another; as I have loved you..."
This is the boundary of our love: "as Jesus loved us". He loved us by giving Himself completely to the Father's work...not HIS will but His Father's in Heaven...we've read this somewhere, yes?
We do not respond to need. This is the religion of "Humanitarianism". We are lead by the Spirit.
quote:
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Amen?
Aaron
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MentorsRiddle
Advanced Member
Member # 2108
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posted
B]Compassion[/B]
“Some have compassion,
Making a difference.”
~The Book of Judges 1:22
Compassion could be defined as an awareness of others’ distress, and your desire to relieve them of it. But it could also be said that compassion is the ultimate love for your fellow man, for which you wish no harm to come. In our world today compassion is hard to find; because true compassion is given from a heart that believes in altruism, which is a selfless concern for the welfare of others. There are very little altruistic people in the world today, if any.
While that may be a brave statement to make, I can’t help but believe that it is true. Sure you can find people out there who will do things for other people, but is it strictly to be compassionate to others needs, or perhaps to make their selves look good in another persons’ eyes? The majority of the time compassion is given for self gain.
But why is compassion so important to attaining happiness? It is important because the strongest positive emotion a human can have is love, and as I have already stated compassion is the most ultimate form of love. There are so many people in the world today that have never known compassion in any way. It is our job as Christians to spread compassion to all who need it. We have a direct commandment from Jesus Christ to spread love:
“A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
That ye also love one another.”
~Jesus Christ, The Book of John 13:34
There are people in the world today suffering because of the choices they have made in life. The majority of the time all it will take to steer people back onto the right path is for someone to show them altruistic compassion. When someone can see that there are people in the world that care for them it awakens something inside of them that they had forgotten. When they finally realize that good things can happen in their life it gives them the hope to pick their selves up from the pit they have dug for so many years, and start to live again. By bringing peace and joy into others life, you are in turn bringing joy and happiness into yours.
Unfortunately it is not always easy to be compassionate, especially to those who don’t truly want it. You must remember that you can not help others who don’t want to help their selves. There are many people out there who will use your compassionate nature to use you for what you can do for them. You must learn to recognize these types of people, and how to help them while still protecting your self from being used. Those who are using you and not truly needing your compassion are very easy to spot. These people will never change, keep putting their selves into a negative place in life, and more often than not ridicule and belittle you. Sometimes the best compassion for people like this is to give them tough compassion. Listen to them, but refuse to help them until you see they are trying to help their self. If someone can put them in a negative environment, they can get back out. When you see them trying then you give them your support, and aide.
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With you I rise,
In you I sleep,
kneeling down I kiss your feet,
Grace abounds upon me now,
I once was lost
but now I'm found.
The gift of God dwells within,
To this love I now give in.
Posts: 1337 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Sep 2003
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