Living In Abundance Series
Have you ever heard the expression: “You really don’t know a person until you’ve walked a mile (kilometer) in their shoes?” Well this is what compassion is. Compassion is to have concern for the suffering or misfortunes of others. Another word for compassion is empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. We are all sentient beings. We experience our world through our five physical senses and that sixth sense called intuition, or, if you are a consistent Bible reader, divine revelation.
In other words, we feel. And if we step outside of our own pain, we can clearly see the pain of others around us. Pain may expose our nakedness, but compassion is the healing balm that covers it up. Poverty, a terminal illness, loss of any kind, depression and all its causes and consequences all encapsulate suffering or misfortune.
We turn to God and ask, “Why me?” God looks at us and asks, “Are you living the purpose for which I created you?”
The Bible emphatically declares that the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not beneath, if you head the commandments of the Lord your God . . . and are careful to observe them (Deuteronomy 28:13).
These commandments do not pertain only to the great ten commandments given to Moses. God commands us to go out into the world and show others who Jesus is by the way you do like Jesus. Jesus felt compassion. Jesus gave. Jesus journeyed long distances to tell His own tribe and others about the Kingdom of God. Jesus healed. Jesus prayed. Jesus fulfilled the purpose for which He was created to do on earth. Hallelujah!
Dear Christian, we must be careful not to give in to the spirit of ingratitude. Our previous conversation displayed us in a most gorgeous garment of praise adorned by the spirit of gratitude! Do all things without complaining and disputing (Philippians 2:14). Compassion calls you to give what you have to lift down-trodden souls into the joy of the Lord. Forget about your own pain and get in the habit of feeling what others feel and doing something good to bring:
· 1 Encouragement to help them to continue pressing on to reach their goal;
· 2 Healing by bringing laughter (Proverbs 17:22) or with a basket of foodstuff, a bag of clothing, a bundle of bills, etc.;
· 3 Salvation of their soul unto Jesus thereby leading them to lay down their heavy burdens and getting the keys to abundant living.
Never forget that Isaiah 61:1-3 is your purpose; and that God has given you the talent(s) to fulfill it. Don’t add your sorrow to someone’s sorrow; but do something good to make them feel better. And remember: God’s abundance is infinite, there’s no ending to it. It’s for everyone, not just for a few; and God’s abundance is for you!
I compare compassion to a pair of shoes. We can understand each other better when we walk a mile (kilometer) in the shoes of others. We get a sense of how they are managing with life by taking a moment to observe their condition and to ask ourselves, “How would I feel if I were in this condition?” The answer to this question compels you to put on your shoes and go to their aid. And aren’t our shoes also part of God’s Armor? The shoes of the Gospel of peace will never fail you.
As you give to others, your own pain diminishes as you realize that God was taking care of your situation while you were taking care of the needs of others!
God gives you the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) in order to establish what He purposed for you to do on earth. When you change your mind about the “influence” of money (from a mindset of lack to believing you can live in abundance), you shall get in alignment with God’s financial plan for your life. He will lead you to where your real treasure is (Matthew 6:19-21). And He will increase you on every side so that you will be a blessing to others (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous [humble], not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called [commanded] to this, that you may inherit a blessing (Read 1 Peter 3:8-12).
Compassion clothes you in the garment of giving and doing good. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38). If you walk with the living Jesus in your heart, He covers and fills your soul with Holy Spirit and with power, so, put on your shoes and stand firm on His promise that Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go . . . for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you (Genesis 28:15).
Recall what God spoke to you about your life’s purpose (your dream, your vision) when you were in your BE QUIET time? Get it down on paper, add the details, and give it over to Him in prayer without ceasing. YOU WILL REJOICE AT THE RESULTS AND BECOME INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!
Your assignment for this week is to read Psalm 34 three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening.
See you in next week’s blog. I’ll be the one carrying your third garment!
© 2020 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved. Published by The Liight In Me Enterprise. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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