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Compassion for the Lost
Read Jeremiah 9:1-8
“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (v. 1).
Kansas City is sometimes called the “City of Fountains.” Only Rome has more public fountains than Kansas City. Take a trip with me to the wooden bench next to one of those fountains. We have arrived just after sunrise. The water is already running. As the city wakes up, a continual stream of water shoots out of a stone figure and splashes into the pool below. By lunchtime, the restaurant on the corner is crammed with patrons, yet the stream of water has not lessened nor the pool overflowed. We do not leave our bench until well after sunset, yet still we have not witnessed the end of the fountain’s supply or a change in the pool’s water level.
Of course, we understand the reasons for this, but have you ever felt your sorrow or compassion worked much the same way? Every tear you wept fell uselessly into a pool that neither eased your suffering nor helped the one who had caused it. Yet that realization does not stop the flow of tears.
Jeremiah’s ministry often revolved around tears. They were not magical tears — no healing or saving power was in them. Yet those tears, when mixed with a prayerful and obedient ministry to the very ones who caused his weeping, were exactly what God required. (Michelle Avery)
Have you ever wept over a soul?
This devotional is the Monday, October 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Showing Compassion to Everyone
Lesson 6 - October 11
Focus Text: Luke 10:29-37
Central Truth: The Christian family shares Christ's love liberally with those in need.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several practical ways they will share God's love with others.
Lesson Outline:
- The Self-Righteous Question (Luke 10:29)
- The Self-Concerned Responses (Luke 10:30-32)
- The Self-Giving Example (Luke 10:33-35)
- The Self-Denying Command (Luke 10:36-37)
Lesson Highlight: self-discipline
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Dr. Gayle Woods writes...
A self-disciplined person’s actions are rational responses rather than an emotional or impulsive response. He will even at times put aside the possibility of pleasure and comfort in order to do what is most important at the moment.
Our instant gratification, fast-food, fast-paced society wants a quick fix for every problem. The wise understand, however, that to succeed spiritually, you must be more deliberate and take the route of self-discipline.
Discussion: What attitudes must we adopt to take "the route of self-discipline"?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 32.
Lesson Highlight: "the Lord was departed"
"And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." (Judges 16:19-20)
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gordon Snider writes...
When we place ourselves in a position to bring embarrassment to the cause of God, our strength will leave us as well.
It is difficult to understand how people in flagrant disobedience to God’s commands assume that God will ignore their disobedience and be faithful to His part when they have not been faithful on their part. But it happens every day.
Discussion: How can God's people be so oblivious both to the shame they bring to God's cause as well as to the condemnation of God they receive when they willfully disobey God's Word?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.
Lesson Highlight: "striveth for the mastery"
In "Word Focus", Dr. Glenn McClure focuses on the phrase "striveth for the mastery" (1 Corinthians 9:25) and writes:
Paul’s emphasis on self-control is expressed by G. G. Findlay: “Entering the race is not winning it; do not be satisfied with running, but make sure of winning — so run that you may secure (the prize)!” (Exp. Gk. Test.). So, Paul’s focus was on the word egkrateuetai (is temperate). These athletes trained for ten months prior to the Great Games, and under oath followed a prescribed diet and a vigorous control of passions. They did all they could “to make their bodies vigorous, active, and supple” (Barnes). This included abstaining from both unlawful and lawful indulgences.
If an athlete can do this just to win a wreath that will wither after one day, what should the Christian do to win an eternal crown?
Discussion: To what lengths should the Christian go to win life's race?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 28.
Controlling Our Appetites
Read Genesis 25:28-34
“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (v. 34).
My father died when I was four-and-a-half years old, and my mother was left to raise my two brothers and me on a very limited income. I cannot recall a time when I left the table hungry, though many times I would have preferred something different to eat. Having grown into adulthood, and even into my senior years, I live very affluently compared to my childhood. Those early days and experiences have caused me to be frugal, sometimes eating leftovers when I preferred, and could have afforded, other things more appealing to me, thus controlling my appetite.
The Scriptures do not tell us why Esau did not kill some wildlife and prepare himself something to eat. We only know that he was very hungry, faint, and perhaps thought that he would die from his hunger. Because of this, he was willing to sell his birthright, something that was a very precious possession of the firstborn. He may have been fairly close to home when he encountered Jacob and could have found something to suffice his hunger in the tent of his parents. However, it seems that he was controlled by his appetite rather than controlling his appetite. (Larry DeOrnellis)
Controlling our appetite does not only refer to our hunger, but also to our emotional and sensual appetites. God is interested in helping us to control all of our appetites.
This devotional is the Thursday, October 1, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.