Tuesday's slice of bread

A weekly post premised on this: Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord (Prov. 16:20)

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Location: Florence, Kentucky, United States

married to my best friend, writer, teacher, avid reader, occasional poet, volunteer

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Compassion

Compassion is on my mind for many reasons, but especially where relationships are concerned.

Peter wrote, "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

This kind of love is compassionate.

In the famous 13th chapter of First Corinthians we read: "Love is patient, love is kind and not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant; does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

This kind of love can come only from God, whom we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:10-11, 19).

This kind of compassion is noted many times in Scripture.

"Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, for they have been from of old" (Psalm 25:6).

"You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me" (Psalm 40:11).

"Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1).

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness" (Psalm 103:8).

"He has made His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate" (Psalm 111:4).

"Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous" (Psalm 112:4).

"Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are those who long for Him" (Isaiah 30:18).

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).

Given God's compassion, how ought we treat other believers?

Paul wrote to the Colossians: "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you" (Colossians 3:12-13).

Prayers from such a heart of compassion will no doubt be answered.

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