Jan 14, 2021 … Christlike Compassion

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 14 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Keith and Kristyn Getty singing … Compassion Hymn…  poignantly singing how we must, as disciples of Christ, show the world His compassion in the way we live for others first rather than for ourselves.  

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Highlight Passage:   Psalm 138:7  [ESV] ... 

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand delivers me. 

…  God’s instructions to Moses about writing a song to help God’s people to witness to God’s glory   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 138 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of God’s life-saving compassion when he was under great duress. 

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] … 

10    … fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

…  God, thru Isaiah, promises His compassionate strength when we’re too weak to deal with the stresses of life. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:12 [ESV] … 

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  

…  Jesus teaches his “golden rule” of compassion for all His disciples to follow.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:32 [ESV] … 

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.   

… The Apostle Paul charges fellow disciples of Christ to exercise tenderhearted compassion to others as Christ has done fo us.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12 [ESV] …  

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, …    

… Again, … the Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to exercise Christlike compassion for others.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon AT THIS LINK posted a story about vandals throwing bricks thru the window of a Jewish family in Montana who had displayed the Star of David in their window.  But the Christians in the area then put pictures of the Jewish Manorah in their windows (see photo) to display Christlike compassion and protection for their Jewish neighbors. 

The Bible is repetitively clear about how our God is compassionate to/for His children, (see Scriptures above)!  In the OT, King David sings of God’s compassion to watch over him in times of enemy oppression (see Psalm 138); and Isaiah prophesied of God’s promise to give His people His strength when they were weakened (see Isaiah 41:10).  In the NT, Jesus commands those who love the Lord to exercise His golden rule of compassion toward others (see Matthew 7:12).  And the Apostle Paul exhorted fellow Christians (including you and me) to exercise Christlike compassion with others in our lives (see Eph. 4 and Col. 3 passages above).  

So, this ODB cries out to challenge all of us Christians, … to exercise CHRISTLIKE compassion toward others, doesn’t it?  … Personally, I”m under conviction to become more like the Gettys sing in the linked song.  How about you? 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for calling Your disciples to be compassionate like You have been for us. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me, … to reach out whenever we can to show compassion to others … just as You, Lord, have done for 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.