Thought for Thursday October 4th

October 4, 2012

Be Compassionate

“Our prime purpose in life is to help others.  And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

-       Dalai Lama

     Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Zechariah  7:9-10

Having compassion, for Christians, by in large, is a much easier task when we think of underprivileged children, in under developed worlds that we can support as missions projects.   It is somehow easy for us to consider the plight of the lost souls in third world nations; yet we find it much harder to care about the hungry, the poor and the hurting in the shadows of our churches within the confines of our own cities and counties.

So often when a homeless person enters our church we give a wide birth so as not to be affected by their sometimes less than aromatic presence.  Often we are dismissive of those children who may not be clean or well dressed and who may not have had the educational advantage that some of our regular church family’s children have experienced.

So many times we want to be quickly done with the indigent who come to our church doors and we act as if we have been invaded by inconvenience once they have departed.

We need to remember, Jesus went to the broken and needy.  He dealt with the sinners and prostitutes.  He even ministered to a wild and crazy naked man in a cemetery because those were the people who were hungry and hurting and not only needed but wanted His help.

And sadly we often even go a step further in our disdain for others by looking down on and occasionally even ostracizing individuals who may not be poor or even derelict but they have the audacity to hold an opinion that is contrary to ours or they don’t dress in a manner that we deem acceptable or appropriate: they don’t comport themselves in a social fashion that we consider to be adequate for fellowship in our particular circle of faith; or they are too excitable and motivated in their desire to praise and serve the Lord and it makes us feel uncomfortable or maybe even guilty so we criticize and demean them to make ourselves feel better.

These observations of Christian behaviors seem harsh to some: but sadly they are far too commonly representative of the attitudes and behaviors found in way to many of our modern day churches.

Jesus was a compassionate man; moved by the needs of the masses as well as the needs of the few and even sometimes the need of just one:  would that we could be more like Him.    

Today’s Prayer

Father, it is often easy to forget how desperate and needy we were when you found us and forgave us: and often how needy we still can be as your blood bought children: help me to have as much compassion for others in need as you have for me.

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen