September 11, 2022 … Christlike Compassion …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 254 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Forgiveness … poignantly singing how we defeat anger and bitterness when we choose to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. 

                                                    Compassion wins !!! 

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Highlight Passage: …  Ephesians 4:31-32 [NLT] …  

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

…  Paul exhorts all Christians to set aside any/all bitterness, showing forgiveness and compassion just as Christ has shown to us as Christians.                

Highlight Passage (Context) … Ephesians 4:25-32 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians how they (we) must set aside anger and bitterness, showing Christlike compassion and forgiveness for others.                                                                            ===============                                                                     .     

Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:9, 7:12 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s golden rule, from Christ, to overcome our human nature producing anger and bitterness.    

Reference Passage: … Luke 10:30-35 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …   

… Jesus teaches Christlike compassion by sharing the Parable of the Good Samaritan.       

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:2 [ESV] …  

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to fulfill Christ’s law of love by sharing one another’s burdens.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians to be His holy and chosen ones who’re willing to forgive those who’ve wronged us.            

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier … AT THIS LINK …   … on this 9-11, shares the story of how Phyllis Rodriguez, who lost her son in the 9-11 twin-towers disaster, .. but later was willing to set aside any anger or bitterness and forgive Aicha el-Wafi, the mother of one of the perpetrators of the 9-11 disaster.  Readers can see the two mothers hugging in the attached photo.   

And this willingness by these two mothers, …  to forgive others … is a strong - and very real - illustration of how Christ calls all who would declare Him as Lord and Savior to forgive others just has He has forgiven us.  It is so easy to let our “natural” anger and bitterness lead to unforgiveness and even hatred and bitterness; where Christ would call - and lead - His born-again disciples to love and forgive one another, as taught in the Scriptures above.  

Is there anyone in our lives who needs Christlike compassion and forgiveness so that we can be living out Christ’s law of love rather than holding on to any anger or bitterness toward others?   If so, I’m stopping to pray today that we let go of any bitterness in our lives and hold on to hugs of Christlike compassion just like the two mother’s did in the attached photo.                   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your perfect forgiveness, which model what we should offer others, … yes even those who have wronged us. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to let go of any bitterness in our lives and forgive others as You, Lord, have forgiven us.   .… Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.