Dear SCC & Friends,
Compassionate and gracious… ~Psalm 103:8
Reflection #204
You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. ~John Bunyon~ Compassion is synonymous with love and mercy and demonstrates our capacity to care and focus beyond ourselves. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. ~Gal. 6:2 Compassion begins with God and is not something we earn but something we receive from Him. We love because He first loved us and are the grateful recipients of His care. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning… ~Lam. 3:22-23 Compassion is at the heart of our faith and like anything can be misapplied… Few things are so deadly as a misguided sense of compassion. ~Charles Colson~ Our faith and practice is not to be “Sloppy Agape,” but rather a heartfelt exercise of truth, kindness and love. Be kind and compassionate to one another… ~Eph. 4:32
I’ve been to many Christian graduations, both high school and college. Often graduates will reference a life verse that is to be the focus of their lives. The one I heard most often was Philippians 4:13… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It is a powerful and all-encompassing statement of trust… a verse that can be more shadow than substance unless applied with faith and intentionality. We never get perfect on this side of heaven, but we are being perfected as the Lord works in our lives. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Phil. 1:6 Part of that good work of God is evidenced through our compassion for others. “Freely we received and freely we give…” The Lord is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. ~Ps. 145:8-9 That includes you, me and all of creation… Made for these days… Keep up the good work!
His mercies never come to an end,
Kevin