Tag Archives: compassion

November 18
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“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27, NIV)

Today, the second of two thoughts on religion’s value.

The pollutants of the world are many: Greed, envy, a preference for form over substance, and self over others; pride, a contentious attitude, a peculiar type of laziness about spiritual things. . .

Religion that motivates its adherents to be mindful of the low and the powerless is acceptable to our heavenly Father. Does your religion motivate you in that particular way?

Religion that preserves its disciple in every conceivable posture of life, despite the world’s pervasive influences, pleases God. Does your religion also keep you in that way?  – Luther

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November 7
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“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3, NIV)

I do not believe it to be a coincidence that the writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us to be hospitable (verse 2) immediately before encouraging us to be sympathetic (verse 3). One virtue compliments the other.

If you are unsure how to extend hospitality, put yourself in the other person’s place, and you’ll never be far from the mark. To meet the need of someone who is suffering, allow yourself to get close enough to the need at hand and the Holy Spirit will inform your speech and guide your hands.

Prison and maltreatment are two states where a person is prone to being forgotten. As disciples of Jesus, we are led to such places to provide hope and healing.  – Luther

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October 23
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“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.” (2 Timothy 1:15-17, NIV)

Most of us have lived long enough to experience what Paul describes: The disloyalty (and the loyalty) of others.

We should be disheartened (although not necessarily surprised) when others desert us — sometimes with malice. However, we should be greatly encouraged by the loyalty of persons who have gone to great lengths in seeking us; in finding us; and in being present with us.

We should be encouraged by the mere presence of those who are not ashamed of — or intimidated by — our “chains,” whether our encumbrance be illness, financial difficulty, marital discord, substance abuse, or the literal chains of jail or prison.

Do you aspire to be “Onesiphorus” in the lives of others?  – Luther

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