Author Archives: cameron

El Dedo Que Apunta

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No hay muchas cosas tan incómodas como que alguien frunza el ceño y te apunte con el dedo. Es posible inspirar sentimientos de culpa en otras personas simplemente frunciendo el ceño y apuntando con nuestro dedo huesudo hacia ellas. Hay una especie de presión extendida en el extremo de un arma, y nuestro dedo apuntador se parece algo así al arma de puntería del juicio. Para aquellos que sienten la necesidad de juzgar en nombre de los demás, les digo que sean buenos tiradores, pero guarden sus armas.

Es curioso, la gente insiste en que los demás sean honestos y transparentes sobre sus opiniones e infracciones, pero cuando lo son, la misma honestidad y transparencia a menudo se usa en su contra. En cierto modo, se parece más al triángulo dramático de Karpman que a una comunidad diseñada para la reconciliación y la restauración. Con todos los golpes y choques, y nuestro ejercicio de juicio hacia nuestro vecino en la iglesia, a veces pienso que deberíamos usar cascos protectores en lugar de sombreros.

¿Y cuál es, te preguntarás, el triángulo dramático de Karpman? Bueno, en resumen, aquí está: imagina un triángulo, y luego imagina en el punto superior la palabra “controlador”, en la parte inferior derecha está “víctima” y en la parte inferior izquierda está “perseguidor”. Se necesitan al menos dos para jugar este juego. El controlador/rescatador ejerce poder personal sobre la víctima, hasta que la víctima no puede soportar más la embestida del control, entonces cambian de lugar. La víctima se convierte en el perseguidor, y el controlador se convierte en la víctima, con el perseguidor golpeando al “controlador que se ha convertido en la víctima” hasta que todos están exhaustos. Se produce una leve pausa en el conflicto, luego todos vuelven a sus lugares originales. Por un momento puede parecer que hay paz, pero la verdad es que todo comienza de nuevo, dando vueltas y vueltas. Me recuerda a estar atrapado en una lavadora, y la batidora está golpeando de un lado a otro hasta que casi te golpean en pedazos. La única salida es dejar de jugar el juego en el que uno de los dos jugadores se despierta al ciclo, o alguien abandona la relación.

¿No es así el dedo acusador del juicio? Guarden sus armas. ¿Sabías que uno de los significados detrás de la palabra hebrea para juicio es “nivelar la mano, como al apuntar con el dedo”? Interesante imagen de palabras allí. Cuando Pablo escribió “no juzguen para que no sean juzgados”, no necesariamente se refería a no tomar ninguna decisión, sino más precisamente, a no transmitir a los demás su opinión personal sobre el bien y el mal.

Entonces, imaginemos que una mujer joven es expuesta por alguien en su iglesia en una falta, y en lugar de hablar con la mujer que fue descubierta, corren y le dicen a los líderes primero.  Sucede en muchos lugares, por lo que no es exclusivo de tu casa. Cuando se corre la voz de que un pecador ha sido descubierto en la congregación, de repente la habitación se vuelve muy dividida. Creo que los rumores se propagan rápido y se adhieren a nosotros más que las buenas noticias. Muchas personas se vuelven religiosas y quieren que la mujer sangre, a pesar de que su culpa no fue tan terrible como se dice en los chismes. Luego, la dirigencia puede tener una reunión con la joven que está en el “banquillo de los acusados”. Al principio, los señaladores insisten absolutamente en que la mujer “se sincere”. Así lo hace, llora y escupe su historia a sus pies, siendo honesta y transparente como ellos exigían. Entonces, sí, ENTONCES, la persiguen, y la reprenden severamente, exigiendo ridículos planes de arrepentimiento, no hasta que ella se haya apartado de su camino, sino hasta que ELLOS estén satisfechos de que ella ha sangrado lo suficiente, en la opinión de ellos. ¿En qué momento habrá sangrado lo suficiente como para satisfacer su necesidad de que alguien sangre?

En las semanas siguientes, cada vez que va a la iglesia, la gente pone sus ojos grandes y húmedos en blanco, mirándola y susurrándose unos a otros. Se siente como una leprosa y se ve obligada sutil y silenciosamente a sentarse en la última fila para escapar de las miradas curiosas y religiosas de los demás. La gente la mira como si estuviera en el circo, pasando por delante de la jaula de la “peligrosa mujer pecadora”.

Al principio, los lanzadores de sombras, los portadores de la historia, tienen su dedo de juicio apuntando hacia afuera, mordiéndola como perros hambrientos, rechinando los dientes ante casi todo lo que se mueve. Sin embargo, me pregunto, ¿por qué el liderazgo no regañó a los murmuradores por escandalizar todo el evento? Básicamente, se unieron a los escandalizadores en su proyección de sombras. ¿Por qué escucharon con tanta atención, tal vez incluso con entusiasmo, para escuchar la jugosa historia?

Déjame preguntarte entonces, si no crees que el liderazgo lo manejó bien, ¿qué hubieras hecho? ¿Pasar a la señora a través de una trituradora de madera? “¡Es la trituradora de madera para ti, pecador, monstruo de iniquidad!” ¿Atarla instantáneamente a un trineo tirado por cohetes al infierno? Recuerda, si estuvieras en el liderazgo, todo el cuerpo de la iglesia te está mirando a ti y a cómo manejas esta situación como un ejemplo de cómo deben lidiar con sus propias cosas, y también tienen cosas que tú y yo no conocemos. ¿Qué quieres hacer? Te das cuenta de que hay un mundo de personas en tu congregación que también están haciendo prácticas objetables donde nadie puede ver. Ah, pero, ellos no fueron atrapados, y tú tampoco. Pero ahora tú, en tu superioridad moral, has atrapado a un delincuente, ¿ahora vas a hacerle pagar? ¿Y luego pagar y pagar hasta que estés satisfecho de que ha sangrado lo suficiente? ¿Crees que tiene suficiente sangre para satisfacer tu necesidad de hacerla pagar? Si no puedes hacer que esa persona pague lo suficiente, y el liderazgo no es lo suficientemente severo como para satisfacerte, ¿decides: “¡Simplemente no puedo estar en la misma congregación con un pecador como ese!”? Es cierto que no es bueno dejar que se deje de abordar, no es bueno exigir que se levante y se crucifique públicamente, y no es bueno echarla fuera porque tiene problemas. Tenía la impresión de que venir a Jesús para sanar es lo que hacen las personas con un problema de pecado, ¿verdad? ¿Qué harías tú?

Por otro lado, en la mayoría de las conferencias cristianas, todos los hoteles locales reflejan que, a pesar de que su tasa de ocupación aumentaba un 98% o más, los alquileres de películas para adultos con clasificación X también se disparaban más del 700% por encima de la frecuencia de alquiler normal. ¿Por qué estamos tan dispuestos a crucificar a una persona por una falta, cuando también somos parte del problema con nuestro dedo de juicio? Claro, la gente perdonará las cosas pequeñas siempre y cuando no les cueste mucho. Sin embargo, tome nota, no dije que no se ocupe de ello, solo digo que, aunque el problema es simple, no complicado, ciertamente hay más que erradicar a un pecador. Tener gracia para nuestro prójimo es excelente, pero esa misma gracia no deja a nadie libre de responsabilidad por su comportamiento. Amigos, si vamos en busca del pecado y la maldad, les garantizo que los encontraremos. Me gustaría que pusiéramos nuestros ojos en encontrar la justicia y los frutos del Espíritu en las personas. ¿Qué te parece?

Sé que esto no suena mucho como algo que diría Social Porter, pero ya sabes, a veces incluso Social Porter no puede encontrar una manera de decir “recoge tu habitación, es un desastre” sin decir “recoge tu habitación, es un desastre”.  Y de nuevo, piensa acerca de esto.

Gracias por escuchar, soy Social Porter para el Ministerio Viviendo En Su Nombre.

Traducción por Alfredo Magni Sozzi

Por La Unción

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1 Juan 2:27, “Pero la unción que recibisteis de él permanece en vosotros, y no tenéis necesidad de que nadie os enseñe. Pero como su unción os enseña acerca de todo, y es verdadera, y no es mentira, tal como os ha enseñado, permaneced en él.” Unción, unción, ¿quién tiene la unción? Me parece que la unción y la permanencia van de la mano.

Jesús dijo: Venid a mí todos los que estáis agobiados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar, porque mi carga es ligera y mi yugo es fácil.  En comparación, Su yugo es fácil y su carga es ligera porque todos los demás yugos y cargas son penosos y demasiado pesados, ya sabes del tipo que te inclina hasta el suelo y te hace sangrar.

¿De qué yugo y carga está hablando? ¿Qué es una unción y por qué la necesito? Creo que el yugo y la carga que es penosa y demasiado pesada son de este mundo. Jeremy Taylor escribió que “el yugo de Cristo es como las plumas para un pájaro; no carga, sino que ayuda a moverse” El yugo del mundo es peso para cargarnos, y el yugo del que habla Jesús es plumas para volar, ¿lo entiendes? Alas, no pesos. Tal vez todos estamos tan adoctrinados en la esclavitud, simplemente estamos acostumbrados a estar en esclavitud, cargados con cargas demasiado pesadas para soportar, tanto, que simplemente pensamos que así es la vida. Jesús dijo que eso es mentira. John Stott escribió que, “La única salvaguarda contra las mentiras es tener perdurable en nosotros tanto la Palabra que escuchamos desde el principio como la unción que recibimos de él”.

Un yugo está hecho para guiar y controlar, y cualquier yugo que Dios no implemente es uno diseñado para adoctrinarnos en el sistema del mundo, un sistema impío y sin esperanza que excluye al Señor, y solo se incluye a sí mismo. Ese yugo, el yugo del mundo, viene con una carga que dice que siempre eres culpable y nunca culpable al mismo tiempo, aplastantemente culpable e irrealmente intachable. El yugo del mundo nos entrena en la rebelión, la miseria, el dolor, el odio y el resentimiento hacia Dios, enseña a nuestros hijos que una mosca en el ungüento de la curación realmente no pudre ni contamina el ungüento. Dice que a veces es necesaria una pequeña mentira mientras llevas el cinturón de la verdad suelto. Dice que un poco de trampa está bien cuando es importante avanzar en tu propia agenda de avance personal. El yugo y la carga del infierno dicen que debemos estar dispuestos a mentir cuando se nos ordene, ocultar nuestro verdadero yo para parecer aceptables, estando mucho más satisfechos de haber obedecido las reglas que de haber sido honestos y transparentes, y emocionalmente disponibles.

El día que aceptaste a Cristo como tu Salvador, 1 Juan 2:27 se apoderó de tu corazón y la bondad de Dios comenzó a fluir libremente en ti. Es el día en que Isaías 10:27 se hizo realidad, y continuaría siendo cierto todos los días a partir de entonces cuando seguiste a Jesús a casa. Dice así: “Y en aquel día se apartará la carga de tu hombro, y el yugo de tu cuello; y el yugo se romperá a causa de la grasa.” La palabra traducida allí para “grasa” es la misma palabra que se usa a menudo para “unción”. Literalmente significa la riqueza, la grasa que hace que tu rostro brille. En este caso se refiere a una mancha de aceite que es un don del Espíritu Santo, y no con sobrepeso u obesidad grosera, sino tan saludable, próspera y musculosa que el yugo se divide y se erradica. La unción de Dios nos dota de fuerza, poder, protección y plena autorización para hacer lo que Dios nos pida. Otra faceta interesante es la promesa de Dios en Isaías 10:27 en el uso de la palabra “unción”, también implica la preordenación del Señor en el sentido de que la ordenación existe en el contexto de que somos llamados “Los ungidos del Señor” a pesar de que la unción aún no ha sucedido. De hecho, la unción de David fue de tal magnitud que pasó de generación en generación, a pesar de que aún no habían nacido. Necesitamos esta unción. quiero decir, realmente no nos gusta este desprestigio de la presencia de Dios sobre nosotros mismos.

Al leer 1 Juan 2:20, usa una frase, “unción del Espíritu Santo”, y la palabra “unción” se traduce más exactamente como “la pasta espesa de la unción”. No es solo una indicación del Señor como muchos podrían pensar. Es más grande. Una vez más, como se dijo anteriormente, significa que la presencia y la bondad del Señor nos hacen tan saludables en el poder del Espíritu Santo, que la esclavitud del mundo y el yugo de las tinieblas están literalmente agrietadas y demolidas. Es por nuestra libertad y por la libertad de los demás. Sin la “pasta espesa de la unción” para romper el yugo, somos impotentes para liberarnos de la esclavitud de las tinieblas.

Por la unción, Jesús rompe el yugo. Por el Espíritu Santo en poder, tal como el profeta habló. Este es el día de la lluvia tardía, Dios se está moviendo con poder de nuevo. Por la unción El rompe todo yugo.

Jesús ES la personificación de nuestra unción. Esto no es sacudirse el yugo del Señor, sino que por Su prosperidad y bienestar en nosotros, el yugo de las tinieblas y el pecado son sacudidos. De ninguna manera nos liberamos del yugo del Señor. Israel, en su rebelión, intentó eso y no salió bien.

Una traducción mejor y más literal de Isaías 10:27 es “que el yugo, como la carga, será quitada del pueblo de Dios, y el yugo mismo se romperá, por la presión de su cuello gordo y fuerte contra él.” Una vez más, no se trata de sacudirse el yugo del Señor, sino de ser liberado del pecado y de la muerte, autorizado y empoderado bajo el lazo del Señor, para hacer lo que Él diga que haga.

La unción antes era solo para reyes, sacerdotes y profetas, pero ahora es para todos los que creen en Cristo, no solo para un grupo exclusivo y de élite en liderazgo. Lo que una vez estuvo fuera de un hombre, como al derramar aceite externamente sobre la cabeza del rey, ahora, por fe, está dentro de nosotros debido al sacrificio de Jesús en el Calvario. Estar “en Cristo” nos hace ungidos. No hay algunos que lo sean y otros que no. La palabra de Dios dice que Él dará el Espíritu Santo a cualquiera que lo pida, y Él no dijo que vaya a esta persona o a aquella persona para obtenerlo, es dado por nuestra petición y el don de Dios.

Juan 8:32 “Y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres“, y luego en el verso 36, “Por tanto, si el Hijo os hace libres, seréis verdaderamente libres”.

Nuestra mayor fuerza contra las tinieblas es entrar en la semejanza del Hijo, Jesús. En Él está nuestra prosperidad, nuestra gordura, la unción para funcionar en cada encrucijada en el poder del Espíritu Santo.

¿Qué te parece?

Gracias por escuchar, soy Social Porter para el Ministerio Viviendo En Su Nombre.

Traducción por Alfredo Magni Sozzi

¿Dónde está Todo Eso?

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Otro compañero y yo estábamos teniendo un tiempo de iglesia en la cárcel local un sábado por la mañana, y entró un tipo que apareció tan bajoneado que no podía ni mirar hacia arriba. Al preguntarle, dijo que ni siquiera podía empezar a comprender cómo su vida se había alejado tanto de Dios. El hombre lloraba grandes lágrimas de cocodrilo, de vez en cuando, una goteaba de su barbilla. Después de un momento o dos, mi compañero fue al punto y le preguntó qué le pasaba. En ese mismo momento, comenzó su relato de aflicción. Era el cumpleaños de su hijo y él no podía estar allí, y no iba a ser liberado momentáneamente para ir a la fiesta de cumpleaños. Fuimos comprensivos y éticamente correctos, luego pregunté sobre “el resto de la historia” diciendo, “¿por qué no te dejan salir para asistir?” Luego salió el “resto de la historia. Entre lágrimas y con su voz más lastimera, dijo que la madre del niño tenía una orden de restricción permanente en su contra. Luego hizo una pausa para lograr un efecto dramático, y luego agregó, al igual que su hermano, sus dos hermanas, sus padres e incluso su ex madre y su suegro, todos tenían órdenes de restricción permanentes sobre el hombre, y las viejas fuerzas del orden lo estaban haciendo cumplir todo con fervor. Nuestras cejas se levantaron en una mirada de “Oh Wow” en nuestros rostros. Le pregunté qué tan grave había hecho para impulsar tal cosa. Su llanto se detuvo, y él, con gran pesar en su voz, dijo que, con el tiempo, había entrado en la casa después de que su esposa se divorciara de él y la robó, y otra vez había golpeado a su hermano y luego le había robado a él y también a su hermana. Y luego había abusado sexualmente de la hija de 14 años de su primo, y también les había robado. Mi compañero dijo con cara seria: “Bueno, me alegro de que no te hayan dejado salir, y me alegro de que todos tengan órdenes de restricción contra ti. Eso es algo bueno”. Sus lágrimas literalmente fueron hacia sus ojos y todos los sollozos se detuvieron abruptamente mientras se sentaba allí con cara de piedra.

Luego dijo en voz alta: “Entonces, ¿qué hago con Romanos 8 donde dice “todas las cosas cooperan para bien? ¿Cuándo voy a tener algo bueno en mi vida? Me enseñaron de niño que estaba predestinado a ser un hijo de Dios, que había sido llamado y preordenado, y que nada podía separarme del amor de Dios. Me siento tan lejos de Dios como un hombre puede estar, a menos que caiga en el infierno. Hablas de cómo Jesús dio Su vida por mí para que yo tuviera vida más abundante. Bueno, toda esa parte abundante sería muy bonita ahora. Dice en el versículo 32 que Dios nos dará todas las cosas. ¿Dónde está todo eso? He estado solo toda mi vida y no puedo ver dónde apareció alguno de los extras de Dios. Se supone que yo soy el elegido de Dios y nadie debe ser capaz de presentar cargos contra los elegidos de Dios, ¡pero aun así no tengo nada más que cargos contra mí!”

Bueno, amigos, ¿cómo responden a eso? Usted puede citar otra escritura al hombre que obviamente conoce las Escrituras lo suficiente como para dar capítulo y versículo. ¿No crees que lo ha oído antes? Claro que sí. Podrías decirle lo horrible que es, pero ¿crees que recordarle lo pecador que es ayudará? Es muy probable que lo sepa muy bien, día y noche. Podrías simplemente cantar un himno o dos, cambiar de tema y fingir que, por fe, realmente no estás allí. Sí, he visto a personas hacer clic mentalmente de esa manera cuando se enfrentan a una personalidad agresiva. Simplemente cierran los ojos, chasquean los talones y dicen una y otra vez: “Por fe, no estoy aquí. Por fe, no estoy aquí”. Por supuesto, luego él y los demás volverían al dormitorio y se divertirían       de cómo te cerraron. Sería una gran carcajada. Si eras tu quien estaba en nuestra posición, ¿quién dirigía esa reunión? Pensabas que lo eras, pero en realidad lo era, y es muy posible que ese fuera su objetivo. Podrías enojarte con él, y reprender al diablo, atando todas las cosas inmundas en el nombre de Jesús, pero luego, una vez que te enojas, simplemente estás enojado, y no puedes deshacer eso. Podrías sugerirle que vaya a tu iglesia cuando salga y hable con tu pastor. Cuando él salga, ¿va a hablar con tu pastor? Oh, como si eso realmente fuera a suceder. ¿Eres tú el que tiene tus pies en el suelo, y es la reunión que ha sido puesta en tus manos para dirigir, y vas a enviarlo para hablar con alguien con un título, como si el título hiciera que la palabra de Dios fuera más efectiva? ¿Están los temas y controversias de Romanos 8:28-33 establecidos en su propio corazón, lo suficiente como para hablar con alguien que podría debatirlo con usted?

¿Crees tú que el recluso malinterpretó Romanos 8:28-33? Sí. ¿Crees que en realidad sabe más y que era un manipulador muy experimentado? Es muy probable.    ¿Crees que contaba con que mi amigo y yo nos tragáramos su triste historia? Absolutamente. Entonces, ¿qué harías tú?

No voy a dar una respuesta aquí. Eso es para que lo concluyas por ti mismo. Sin embargo, diré que toda la situación es real, y debemos ser capaces de hacer algo más que simplemente lanzar las Escrituras a las personas y discutir con ellas. Debemos pensar seriamente en lo que está impulsando los comportamientos que están frente a nosotros, comenzando por nosotros mismos.

Aquí hay una pista: No preguntes qué puede hacer Dios por ti, sino qué haces tú por Él. El Señor no existe para conseguirnos lo que queremos. ¿Qué te parece?

Gracias por escuchar, soy Social Porter para el Ministerio Viviendo En Su Nombre.

Traducción por Alfredo Magni Sozzi

Leadership: Character

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Of the three C’s, character is the last, and quite probably the most important, it being the engine which drives our conduct and conversation.

Across history many have spoken about the value and importance of being upright in our character, most importantly for those in leadership or are leadership hopefuls. If you go online there are literally thousands of books, articles, meme’s, quotes, short and long winded speeches about character. The truth is, God considers character so, so important, He has associated it with trust, reliability, kindness, patience, faithfulness, honesty, transparency, self-control, and loyalty to name a few. Yep, those are all things of Galatians 4 concerning the fruit of the Spirit, and yep, it’s a really big deal.

Jesus said, “Follow me”, which means “accompany I AM”, meaning, walk like me, talk like me, believe like me, trust the Father like me. Additionally, when Jesus said, “follow me” it also means, you and me together, walking together, talking together, not just you over there and me over here, but we’ll go together as a team, you and me. Rubbing shoulders with God builds us into the person He’s interested in using, and part of our upright character is not being an actor, but honest, accountable, and transparent. Everyone has a public face, or what i call a “presentation face”, but the Lord calls each of us to be instant in season and out. Most folks think of that in a ministerial sense, but that phrase, “in season and out”, in Greek represents, in addition to a ministerial sense, another angle which is to say, i’ll be the same day in and day out, and the face you see is really the person i am. It is a state of being where our outside matches our inside. It means for us to be the real deal, more than how we appear but literally who you are. Not rules to keep but someone to be.

i have watched video’s here and there of someone intent on stealing from a retail store, how they walk in, cruise the isles, watching to see when no one is looking, and right as they start to put something in their pocket, they look up and see the security camera. Suddenly, the look on their face is, “i need to watch what i’m doing here because it’s probably being recorded.” This spoke to me about myself in that our real character is who we are when we think no one is looking.

Many many years ago, i was living life as if i had a split personality. No i didn’t have a split personality, but i did life as if i did. Who i was in the dark where no one could see, was not who i was in the light where everyone could see, and it never occurred to me that my secret self was just as contagious as anything else about me. One day, the Lord caught me up short and posed me a question which rocked my world. He said, “Do you do the things you do because you don’t believe I can see you? Or do you do them because you don’t care if I can see you?” i had a growing conflict within myself which the Lord in the following years came to resolve, making me to be not just merely well, but healed and whole, as in, i am one person.

The character which motivates our conduct and conversation is something we choose. One fellow said that “your character is the sum total of your life choices”. That’s sounds about right to me. Our character is strengthened, not by doing things right, or by doing the right thing one time, but by the habit of doing the right thing all the time, as a second nature. Remember, managers do things right, but leaders do the right thing, and it is always the right time to do the right thing. Let us be willing to pay the price in order to become more like Jesus, not willing to ever play it cheap concerning our character. Let us pursue the Lord and endeavor to live an upright life, never allowing ourselves to muddle the line of choosing by saying to ourselves, “Well, it’ll be alright if i cheat just a little.” Doing the right thing can be just as habit forming as persistently doing the wrong thing. The more we behave in a way that is damaging to ourselves and others, the more “natural” the damaging behavior will seem and will eventually become, Just the way we are.

N.T. Wright wrote that, “our drift away from the Lord begins by our not remaining under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gradually, more and more often excusing bad behavior, and ending up congratulating vice.”

Mr. Wright goes on to say, “The Bible presents us with a better idea, as seen in the vision of being a “good person” based on our constant relationship with God and His promised future. We must be willing to pay the full price of possessing the character which drives our conduct and conversation, not trying to “get in advance something which we didn’t really pay the price of owning, but merely posing a face of having genuine moral thought, decision, and effort.” Friends, if we think others do not see our true character, we are wrong. They may not realize what they’re looking at, but something in them is aware that, in us, is a darker alternate who is allowed to persist.

We are truly powerless to make ourselves conform to God’s higher standard. The world’s perspective of a higher moral code is easier to adhere to considering the world doesn’t mind redefining right and wrong in order to suit their purposes. Many say, “I’ve tried it, it didn’t work,” so they just left the faith feeling guilty. We need Jesus to truly exact right justice, hold and practice high moral fidelity, and consistently be honest and transparent. The Lord is calling us all to be people of good morals, ethics, and principles. It’s not enough to simply appear as the called of God, He’s calling us to BE the people of the Lord with His morals, ethics, and principles, as genuine lights to the world because it’s who we truly are. Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Let’s embrace the Lord’s work in us and never lose sight that the world is watching.

Here ends the very brief, yet important, discussion of the three high points of leadership which i call the three C’s, conduct, conversation, and character, with our character as the engine driving our conduct and conversation.

What do you think?

Thanks for listening. i’m Social Porter with Living In His Name ministries.

Leadership: Conversation

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Of the three high points of leadership which i call the three C’s … conduct, conversation, and character, and our conversation, like our conduct, is a big indicator of our character.

Most of us probably just talk along, and may not give much thought to this, but God considers the words of our mouth to be among the things He considers as, utmost importance. For the cause of the testimony of Christ in us, we need to consider carefully the words we allow past our lips. In Job 8, Bildad accused Job of being a windbag in saying, “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?” The Lord warns us to guard our mouth with all diligence in Prov6, lest we are caught, or snared by the words of our mouth. If that happens, go quickly and apologize before your own words dig a pit not so easily escaped.

Conversations encourage exploration of contexts, decisions, and behaviors of relationships. Conversations are not just passing out information, and instructing others, but a two way street of participation. It is as much an employment of our faith to tell others about Jesus as it is to also be facilitators of conversation, allowing others to see in our lives concerning who God has made us to be, in hopes they will see the green shoots of grace in our own backyards, that’s called getting “eye level”.

i think it should be made clear, the idea of getting “eye level” with God and others is a metaphor as well as a physical action. Good conversation that is “eye level” is personal and relational because God is personal and relational, and nowhere, and i mean nowhere in the Bible, cover to cover, is God impersonal and non-relational. He was personal and relational in the beginning and He is personal and relational all the way to the end. “Eye level” means to be honest, straightforward, and to be on common ground as in direct, personal conversation where there is no third party mediator. By the blood of Jesus, we have direct access to the Father, and have no need of anyone going to God for us, as if the Lord hears one above the other due to title and position. The dialogue we keep with the Lord is highly influential in the conversations we have with other people. Our conversation is the first thing people hear of us. i believe it is the truth, on the average; most people have already struck a general opinion about us within the first 2-3 minutes of opening our mouth.

1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

According to Websters dictionary, a conversation is an informal exchange of views, observations, opinions, feelings, or ideas, and there’s all kinds: quiet conversations, loud ones, personal or private conversations, and others which are the open forum type for anyone who would participate. Conversations typically go in directions which aren’t predictable either, after all if it were scripted it wouldn’t be a conversation, it would be called a “play”. A good conversation, not just any but a good conversation is also “emotionally available”. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t share anything of themselves? It doesn’t go far without some degree of vulnerability, and without vulnerability it usually feels more like someone gleaning information from you than actually wanting to be involved with you. A good conversation is a risk because it requires transparency.

Our conversation is reflective of our character, so if someone tells you they’re a believer, go to church, maybe even a deacon or pastor etc, etc, then turn around and tell a foul joke, laughing out loud even if no one else laughs, it’s highly likely they’ll not be taken too seriously, maybe even avoided eventually. A good conversation is more valuable than we imagine. It is us allowing others into our lives and others allowing us into theirs. Do you see it? It’s a two way street!

Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

We should not just be a distant light in the darkness in people’s lives, we should be the soft light of grace up close and personal. And if we’re going to let our lights shine up close and personal, let us allow the Holy Spirit to resolve our worldly hearts of sourness, bad language which reflects our heart, fault finding, ignorance, and a downcast countenance. If we will let Him, God will fill us with aspects of courtesy, insight, grace, and salt. We are not monotony on two legs you know, we possess the very life and light of the universe in our hearts.

Our external conversation is born from our internal conversation, and i think we need to ask the Lord to redeem our internal narrative, which is where our conflict resolution begins. Within everyone there is a conversation going on, we may not be aware of it, we may not want to admit it or admit to the contents of that internal narrative, but it is there. The Hebrew word for conversation draws a picture of a well-worn path, or a path which is worn from constantly being walked on, and when in groups, it draws a picture of marching together, or, a conversation, like people who are going somewhere together.

In Proverbs 31:3, “your ways” doesn’t necessarily mean the way you do things, but more speaks of your internal narrative, in other words, don’t give your internal conversation over to those things which destroy, or don’t allow yourself a downward spiraling internal conversation so often you begin to believe your own rhetoric. You want to be in leadership? Consider then, in addition to conduct, your conversation is contagious. How you present the words of your mouth is highly likely to be emulated by those around you. Inviting people into a conversation is a door for clarification and an opportunity to venture below the surface of our presentation face. Conversation is a call to allow our thinking’s and musings to be elevated above the horizon, in other words to lift them above street level to be discovered and to not allow our thoughts to remain buried like secrets concerning hidden things.

Conversation is how people get to know what we’re about, it’s how people get to look at aspects of us which aren’t so readily seen. In our vulnerability during the back and forth talk of conversation, we get to see the green shoots of grace growing in other people’s back yards, and if we don’t master small talk, we’ll never see those things. Conversation is where we connect and are connected with, it’s as much an art as letting God make us beautiful for the world to behold.

There are three necessities of leadership, i call them the three C’s…conduct, conversation, and character, and this is the second of the three.

What do you think?

Thanks for listening. i’m Social Porter with Living In His Name ministries.

Leadership: Conduct

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Being a good leader is about having such exemplary conduct, character, and conversation others want to be like you. As a leader, you are the example, and as an example all that you are is contagious, even the hidden stuff can be imparted. It doesn’t require you wear a suit, slick back your hair with religious hair gel, or have church-speak down pat. It doesn’t require you be amazing or relevant. Our conduct demonstrates who we are more than anything, anything, anything else. There are people who call themselves leaders, yet are irresponsible, inconsiderate, foul mouthed, and maybe even down right feckless. That’s not even a good manager. It appears to me that’s just someone who has the look and talk down pat, and knows how to spit out numbers and percentages at meetings, but in truth, no one wants to be like them, not many appreciate their character, and others simply avoid any continuing conversation.

Most places who need managers, need someone to figure out time schedules for employees to work, keep track of stock, handle the money and receipts, and sometimes more than anything else, be the go-to person for resolving conflicts between the people who work there or with customers.

Alan Murray wrote that, “The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader’s eye is on the horizon. The manager imitates; the leader originates. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person. The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing. Did you catch the subtle differences? It’s important we perceive them.

From God’s perspective though, our conduct is one of three primary things which are of utmost concern. Conduct is how we set our feet on territory or an object. In fact, the Hebrew word for “conduct” is a derivative of the word “tread”, as in Deut33:29, “treading upon the high places of the earth.” It’s not IF we place our feet on territory, but HOW we establish our feet there. We can either be a terror and tyrant, or we can live with confidence in Christ, with good boundaries and grace.

From God’s perspective, our Godly conduct requires humility, a stooping down. It’s amazing how far a little humility goes, and nowhere does God mean to be sniveling and spineless, that’s not humility. No sniveling allowed. Humility brings us clear eyes and a clear head for God will always help those who get low. Remember, Prov15 says that humility comes before honor. If we want to be leaders with honor, then humility is the doorway to God’s house. There is actually an element of action in the Lord’s word for conduct. It’s more than just saying good stuff causing people to nod in agreement with us, but is more about putting righteousness into action.

Leaders, real Godly leaders, don’t merely assign people a task, but define for them a purpose. Managers may organize workers to maximize efficiency, but real leadership strengthens Holy Spirit giftings, nurture skills, develops talent, imparting inspiration and passion. Conduct, it’s not IF you stand, but HOW you stand.

i believe we can learn to be a manager, but leadership, real leadership is a gift developed by God. We can read all the 5 easy steps to leadership books we want, but the truth is, if we’re not called to it, we’re simply not called to it. Now, look, if God has not called you to be leadership, don’t let it get you down. Just because we have a different calling, doesn’t mean we have a lesser calling.

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about conduct. Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Righteous leadership tips the house towards the Lord and uprightness, and atrocious leadership tips the house toward atrocity. Proverbs 29:23, “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” And here again, the goal of being a leader is not one of putting yourself in a position of being honored, sitting in high places, strutting around in mock authority. That kind of conduct is not conducive to leading anyone except those who live in the same swirling madness. Remember, humility comes before honor, so if your goal is to get to a platform and own that microphone so everyone will listen to you, you’ve gotta get low first. In order to make good wine there must first come the crushing of grapes.

God has called us to actually, actually, truly possess a heart inclined to Godly conduct, not just a heart which puts on airs of good conduct for the hidden agenda of gaining a platform. A man is judged by his works, his achievements, his deeds… his total conduct, all of which is intrinsic to being a leader. Godly conduct is the result of being boiled down through trial, or hewed to a shape, as God has been allowed to form our character, like a potter shapes the clay.

Jesus is our most outstanding example of leadership, of our exemplary conduct, character, and conversation. Study how He conducted Himself and then follow His example. Ephesians 4:20-24, “But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

We have been empowered through the blood of Jesus to continually live in what Paul describes in that scripture as foundational to good conduct. Good conduct is not IF you place your feet on territory, but HOW you place your feet there. 1Tim3:15, “if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

This is speaking of responsible, Godly leadership, where our conduct in God’s house lays the ground work of truth, and being in leadership demands a special kind of conduct. Did you get that? Our Godly conduct lays the ground work of truth in Christ. God is using you as an example.
John Maxwell says if you think you’re a leader, look behind you and if no one is following you, you’re not a leader, you’re just someone out for a long walk. Not everyone with the title of leader is a leader. Managers are not necessarily leaders. CEO’s are not necessarily leaders. Politicians are not necessarily leaders. Pastors are not necessarily leaders. Some people just wind up with a title because: No one else wanted it. OR No one else was qualified. Leaders don’t have to call themselves leaders in order to be leaders. If we have to tell people we are a leader so they’ll know we’re in leadership, chances are good we’re probably not all we think.

Paul Turner asks, “So my friends, is your conduct as a leader speaking loud enough? Look behind you…is anyone following? If no one is there, you may not be in leadership like you think. Who are you inspiring and how can you tell?” And i say, Remember, if you want others to be different, you be different. What do you think?

Thanks for listening. i’m Social Porter with Living In His Name ministries.

A Heart Of Compassion

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This week has been like every other week in that there have been extraordinary moments, a very few low moments, but by far and large time has passed in the everyday doings of life, just like everyone else.

On a side note, i find it interesting how many people have something in mind they feel God has called them to do, or what’s more commonly called, “a ministry”, but yet when the money isn’t there to pay them to do what they believe God has appointed them to do, suddenly they question whether God actually appointed them in the first place. i was recently asked, “What is your ministry?” i actually have an answer, and it’s a reply which doesn’t point myself out or elevate my status. Here it is: My ministry is to live a life which is a constant upward pointing to the sovereignty of God as my second nature, and to do what so ever He asks of me to do with all my heart, to be at the ready at all times, to do more than do rules but to yield and let His words persuade my heart. You know, if there really is only one name under Heaven, then i figure i’ve got no business tagging my name on everything so people will know who i am.

i have a truth i picked up from an old minister of the gospel many years ago, he said, “Where God’s appointment is, therein is the provision.” i think maybe our dilemma is our perspective of “Just what exactly constitutes God’s provision?” As an example, we expect money, God gives character and anointing. Would you be willing to trade a little of your character and anointing for an increase in pay? Can we accurately judge if the Lord is in our midst by how many people come to our church?

Think about it – there are more than a few golden calves around with lots of people in attendance. Can we accurately judge if God is with us by how much money people give us? Money follows ministry, ministry doesn’t follow money. There’s more than a few services around which people give lots of money to, and God has long ago left the scene. Don’t get me wrong, money and provision are a minor indicator of God’s calling, but, but absolute far and large, there are more important things than money which indicate God’s calling. Be circumspect, meaning to take all things into account to discern the Lord. Exodus 23:13, “… And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.”

When our money, or lack thereof, becomes a measure of our worth, anointing and calling, there is a serious conflict within us which needs resolution.

That’s not tonight’s topic, it’s just a side bar which seemed to need some encouragement for us to think carefully about.

This evening, our table topic is compassion, what is it, do we have a heart of compassion, and how do we access the most compassionate heart in the universe? 

Jesus demonstrated compassion, He responded to the compassion of others, He went beyond words, and was THE example of the compassionate heart of the Father.

Jesus not only demonstrated great power; he also demonstrated mercy and compassion as an example to us. Compassion is derived from the word for mercy and in many places the early translators used compassion instead of mercy, although there is a difference. Our politically correct and conveniently polite society avoids the suffering multitudes, they just look like trouble, and the three L’s bother us, the Least, the Left Behind, and the Lost. But Jesus reached out and helped anyone in need.

In light of that, what exactly is compassion? Consider this: the kindness of God threw a drowning man a rope of hope, and compassion encouraged the man to grip that rope to receive God’s extension for rescue. Compassion. We all say we’ve got it, but i wonder if we really understand what God has deposited in us?

i believe compassion involves having a different perspective than empathy when it comes to how we perceive others, often being confused with empathy. Compassion has the added element of having a desire to reduce the suffering of other people, more than empathy, it’s taking action and getting involved. i define empathy as the ability to put myself in the other person’s shoes without joining them in their circumstances. In other words, sympathy says you are sick and i join you in your sickness, empathy says you are sick and i help you get over it without my joining you in your suffering, and apathy doesn’t care if you’re ill or not.

God was compassionate towards us as fallen mankind, but His Son, Jesus, not only empathized with us, but He also SYMPATHIZED with us. He not only understood our dilemma, but He also joined us in overcoming that dilemma without capitulating to participating in the cause of our dilemma, with the cause being iniquity, transgression, and sin.

Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Do you see that phrase “touched with the feeling”? That phrase is from the Greek word, sympatheo (soom-path-eh’-o), or sympathy, meaning Jesus understood our suffering, AND He suffered everything we suffer while He was here as God in the flesh. Wow, what a Savior!!

Compassion is the forerunner of and leads to empathy. The early church fathers considered compassion more virtuous than simple empathy because, as St. Augustine said, “compassion commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another’s suffering.” “Active” being a very important word there, not passive, but “active”. Universally, across the board, in most all religions on the earth, compassion is held as among the greatest of virtues. Now i can’t remember ever, in my life, hearing someone use the word virtue, outside of a biblical context, so i’ve got to wonder, what is virtue? Here’s a very good idea: Virtue is excellent character, kindness, faith, generosity and moral goodness according to God. Take special note of that, it’s according to God.

So, here’s the crossroads … if we’re honest, in addition to understanding why some people suffer the things they suffer, drug addiction, homelessness, hunger, etc. … would you be willing to consider taking action to alleviate their suffering? There’s nothing wrong with giving money, but the Lord calls us to more than just throw money at suffering. Someone must actually have the heart to do the work. Understanding someone’s suffering and actually taking action to alleviate their suffering is two different things. Empathy says we understand the situation, compassion says we go the extra mile and take action. Just because we acknowledge and agree that something is true is not the same as actually doing something about it. Agreement with the truth and commitment to take action based on the truth are different. Sincerity is not the same as following Jesus.

Matthew 5:41”If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” The Lord is leading us to enlarge our compassion for the suffering world around us.

We in church today say we love our neighbor, but if we won’t hardly go the extra mile for ourselves, what makes us think we’ll go the extra-mile for anyone else?

In 2007, a stabbing victim lay dying on the floor of a Kansas City convenience store. Five shoppers who were in the store at the time stepped over the woman, and continued to make their purchases being careful to not step in the blood. The store video showed the woman struggling to her feet three times without anyone stopping to help. All but one person stepped over her, and the one who did stop, stopped to take a picture. The outright lack of compassion for this young woman’s life, or anyone else for that matter, is deeply troubling. What is wrong with our society? Maybe people generally feel that every time they are empathetic, someone tries to take advantage of them, i don’t know. Does the lack of compassion within our society reflect the lack of compassion in the ranks of our leadership? We need God-grown compassion, and it only comes from Him.

i don’t know if the following has ever happened to you, but it certainly happened to me one time. At one point, life was very hard for me. i cried a lot. One day i met up with a friend from work who asked how i was doing. As i began to explain my situation, a couple tears rolled out of my eyes, but when i looked up, my buddy was gone. Vanished. In the following days as i pondered those events, i realized that some people get overwhelmed with the suffering of others and they put physical and emotional distance between us and themselves. It may not have anything to do with the person in crisis, they may have a similar crisis of their own going on and just can’t bear to hear of someone else’s pain. Some may even stay and listen but, simultaneously, emotionally disconnect, when that happens the person in crisis, like i was, experiences something like emotional abandonment and often have no idea why the feel that way. The Lord’s compassion is unwavering though. He always hears us and never abandons us.

The compassion God grows in our heart makes us capable of reducing suffering and fulfilling our God ordained purpose of transforming the world into something which reflects the Kingdom of Heaven. It may be only the environment in your space, and could include an entire business.

Again, it needs to be said, from before the foundations of the universe was laid, the character of the cross was worked in the heart of the Father, and out of love and compassion, from before the beginning, God laid a plan of salvation for the object of His affection. It was Love and compassion for the condemned gripped-by-sin-universe which compelled Jesus to relate to us and also to die for the sins of the world.

Compassion and Love were the motivation of Christ for healing! It’s never for the thrill of sensationalism, nor for the prospering of our selves.

The rivers of God’s compassion and mercy run full throttle, constantly, and never run dry; they are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness oh Lord.”

Every morning without fail, to be seen by those who have eyes to see, we have fresh instances of God’s compassion towards us and just because we don’t see doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Every morning He brings his judgment to light, Zephaniah 3:5, “Morning by morning He dispenses His justice, and every new day he does not fail…”

When our personal comforts fail, God’s compassions do not. He renews our strength with compassion, Psalm 86:15-16, “But you, O Lord, are  compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant.”

Identifying with another person is an essential process for human beings. When people feel no one can identify with their problems they lean toward feeling abandoned, rejected, isolated, and alone. As our world collapses in upon itself, life seems to be taking a nose dive and nothing is working out, or when the end of this world is finally in sight, let us take refuge in Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

           What should we do with someone who really has no empathy or compassion for those who are suffering and burdened with grief? What do you do when someone says something that is ignorant and/or hurtful? We could just let our woundedness drive us backwards adding the hurtful situation to our list of victim credentials, or we can let the Lord change our hearts and turn our hurts into compassion for others. One man said, “When someone throws dirt on you, learn to grow flowers.” One thing which has really helped me to maintain my footing around people who seem uncompassionate, right off, is to stop caring so much about what other people think and start caring about what God thinks. Let the Lord teach you how to be comfortable in your own skin. Another thing to do is to know that your life is a meaningful and worthy existence, just as God made you, and it’s ok to look and sound like yourself. It’s good to know you are a sinner saved by grace, it’s important to know you are dead to sin and God no longer calls you sinner but saint. If you only stop there though, never taking in the full counsel of the Lord, you’ll always be stuck in all your unworthiness like something trapped in the washing-machine beater, just pounding back and forth. Let gratitude for even the small things seep into your heart, like laughing children, the light of the moon, good food, shelter … those are things we take for granted so often it seems.

Lastly, be in the moment, be present and in the room. You may think those are small things, but they really do make a difference.

Oh, this next part is so good. Matthew Henry speaks of God’s compassion in his “Commentary of the Whole Bible” saying, “For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.”

Matthew Henry continues, “Mountains have sometimes been shaken by earthquakes, and removed; but the promises of God were never broken by the shock of any event. “When our friends fail us our God does not, and neither does his compassion and kindness depart. Do the kings of the earth, and the rulers, set themselves against the Lord? They shall depart and be removed. Great mountains which stand in the way of the salvation of the church, they shall be made low (Zachariah  4:7), but God’s compassion and kindness shall never depart from his people, for whom he loves he loves to the end; nor shall the covenant of his peace ever be removed, for he is the Lord that has mercy on his people. Therefore the covenant is immovable, because it is not built on our merit, which is an uncertain thing, but on God’s mercy, which is from everlasting to everlasting.”

An open hand is indicative of generosity, and a closed fist is about judgment and the restriction of any generosity. We, who are believers, ought to pursue the Lord that we would be people similar to Him in more than just being prosperous with good words, yet operating so much of our lives with a closed fist. We need God’s compassion to become our compassion. Jesus was compassionate to the masses before we were, and because He was that way, it is made possible that we can be that way. Because Jesus loved, we can love. Because Jesus had compassion and empathy, we can be that way too. Not just “act” like that, but “be” like that. The entire Hebrew language, which the O.T. is written in, is highly action oriented.

God has a never ending compassionate heart towards us, and when we make a mistake, He’s not a cruel task master standing over us with a whip held high above His head, ready to strike. That is the doctrine of men, and not the heart of the Father. So many of us are so, so afraid of making a mistake and getting something wrong. A well-known evangelist said, concerning mistakes, “…what matters to God is our heart, not our performance. He knows we aren’t perfect and He’s totally OK with it. The devil loves to remind us of our mistakes, but just because we make a mistake doesn’t mean we ARE a mistake. The biggest mistake we can make is to be afraid of making one. Stop being held hostage by the fear of making mistakes, because you will, we all will, and there’s a difference between unintentional mistakes, and purposeful sin. God is not calling you to NOT make mistakes, He’s calling you to be bold and fearless and to break out in faith, trusting Him to lead you.”

Wow! i’ve read and heard many things, but that…. that just rocks my world! Our God, the Lord has compassion on us, and to say, “Mountains have sometimes been shaken by earthquakes, and removed; but the promises of God are never broken by the shock of any event.”, oh what a mighty God we serve!

 

The Lord delights to show us mercy. Out of His great love and compassion He delights to forgive us. He has compassion to save us. Do we delight to have mercy on others who we consider offensive, or do we secretly hold them in contempt, almost feeding off of the snurling lip of our attitude? It is the compassion of God to forgive and acquit us of our wrongness of character, and it seems to me we need to begin our walk down the road less traveled to discover the compassion of God in our hearts towards a dying world.

So, what did God impart of Himself when He created compassion? Compassion is a heart and head concept in that it is an attitude of heart and an action in our head…and by action i mean we get involved and do something about those of more unfortunate circumstances. With the Lord compassion is a continual spring of water, a flowing stream making Him a pillar of support from beginning to end. The call of God bids us to be as He is. In compassion is impartable hidden goodness, but it’s the kind of goodness that is concealed and also revealed. A little of God’s goodness in us goes a long way, or it could be said, it is the “little which holds much”. The last two Hebrew letters of the word for compassion is spelled yod, hey, which is God’s shortened name, Yah! His very name is right in the middle of righteous compassion, making us walking miracles through whom He gives support to the fallen and broken ones who put their trust in Him. Think about that one, catch the passion of God’s heart.

These are all qualities of the Lord which He is developing in us that we would be like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Since Jesus tore the veil in the temple, the veil of separation, He is no longer hidden from us … we can now look Him, eye to eye. As a result, we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

If there was ever an example of compassion it is the heart of God Himself. The Lord Jesus, The Name was moved by the lostness of the people around Him, as seen in Matthew 9:36 where it says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

In Luke 15, As Jesus tells the story of the lost son returning home, the father sees his son while he is still far away, suggesting the father’s longing for his son’s return. When he sees him, the father feels deep love and compassion for his son. According to Jesus, this illustrates the way God sees mankind in their condition of least, lost, and left behind, the three L’s. The compassion of God does not deny his just anger over sin. Yet the God who judges our sin is the same God whose heart is moved by our sinful, lost condition.

Here is some things to ponder: Do you ever think of God as having feelings for you? If not, well … why not? If you do, which feelings do you tend to attribute to God?

Do you believe that God is “filled with love and compassion” for you? If you really believed this, how does it impact your relationship with God? How does that belief impact your relationships with others? Think about it!

 

i’m Social Porter and thank you for joining me here at Outposts for cool jazz and contemplative conversation, it’s a semi-live broadcast from the late night, cascading banks of the Ockluhwahhah River, where the trees gently lean over the rivers edge, and every evening is pleasant.

This evening’s brilliant topic was brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, Area 22 Guitars, the home of brilliant creativity and dynamic forward thinking, the Mebane Freedom League with Allan, Kevin, and Tommy, Clay Hyder of Clay Hyder Trucking, good ol’ Bob at the Ranch Motel, and Trinity Bakers, the sweet spot on main street where there’s always something good in the oven.

i read somewhere that one of the ugliest things ever seen is a human being with no compassion. A basic concept of the Hebrew for compassion is to touch and be touched, it is more involved than simple empathy, compassion commonly inspires an active desire to alleviate another’s suffering, and is connected to justice, and fairness. As a parting thought, i figure one of the greatest cruelties is our casual blindness to the despair of others. If we’re supposed to love others as the Lord first loved us, let us take to ourselves the compassion of God to begin the transformation of the world around us. Let compassion and love for a world of transgressors motivate us, to extend relief to the suffering, joining with the Lord to lead the lost sparks home. Remember, everyone we meet is fighting a battle we know nothing about. Be kind.

Drive carefully this week, extend yourself to someone for good, tell the truth, be honest, and let Jesus shine in all you do. Amen.