“Biblical
orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.” Francis
Schaeffer
It’s amazing how God works in our lives!
Oftentimes, I’m staggered by how patient the Father is with me. We human beings
tend to get out of balance and out of whack so easily. We swing from extreme to
extreme…and I knew better…I just
didn’t do better.
At one point in my ministry, I swung to the
extreme of orthodoxy versus compassion and love. Orthodoxy is so much easier. I
found, too, it fed my ego more than compassion, after all, “I was right!” But
sadly, I wasn’t.
God has given me several wonderful gifts over
the years to help nudge me back to spiritual balance. The one He has used most
in my life is my wonderful wife, Jane. If you look up the word “compassion” in
the dictionary, you’ll find Jane’s picture there as an illustration. Jane has a
servant’s heart. She is consistently consistent. Sometimes I have to confess
that I act more loving and compassionate than I actually feel like being.
Maybe it’s when you are on the receiving end
of compassion the Father rings a bell inside your soul. For the past couple of
weeks I’ve been on the receiving end. It’s been a powerful reminder to me how
important it is to know that your brothers and sisters love you and care for
you. I think we assume they know…but assuming is always faulty. We also get
busy and forget how important compassion is to others.
Probably, our biggest issue as Christians at
this point in history is we have allowed Satan to cause us to overreact. Our
world knows so little of truth. Truth has become fluid and subjective. We live
in what the prophet Isaiah described as: “Woe
to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and
light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah
5:20). In our defense of truth, Satan has often led us to jettison compassion
for “truth,” causing us to forget that while we are to cling to the truth, God
doesn’t need us to defend the truth. To be candid, for most of us, truth is
easier. Yet, truth without love and compassion is often brutal…at the very
least, heartless and unfeeling. We forget, too, the issues we face are not new.
The 1st century church faced the identical dilemma of having the
truth in a world where there was little or no truth. So much so that Pontius
Pilate bemoaned, “What is truth?” (John
18:38).
As I look back over my life, I can remember
very, very few occasions when “truth” in the hands of another was memorable and
touched my life. Yet, I’ve lost track of how many times love and compassion
from a brother or sister touched my life. Compassion was like medicine for my
soul.
Some acts of compassion I’m sure seemed so
simple, the individual probably gave them little thought. But they were huge
for me! Even nearly five decades later, I still remember that Bob and Joyce
Collins (Bob was my Sunday School teacher when I was a boy), sent me a card
every month for several months just to let me know they were thinking of me
after my Mom died. Or, Bob Wroten, Dan Hardin, or Kent and Rita Richards – all of
whom would frequently drive out of their way (we’re talking at least ten miles),
just to give me a ride to church. Or, the anonymous individual who gave me an
airline ticket when I was in Bible College, so I could go home. I didn’t have
the money. I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone but one day it just showed up in my
mailbox at school. And I can’t tell you how many times that my soul has feasted
for days, even weeks on notes of encouragement I’ve received.
As I had no real family, I am so thankful for
many of you who have made our family part of your family. We owe you an
unpayable debt. For the rest of our lives, Jane and I will never forget how
many of you were there for us as Ben was going through brain surgery. We were
never alone at the crisis points of our lives because our family – YOU – were there.
Yet, it’s hard to care for one another
without some level of vulnerability. It was very hard for me to ask for prayer
for myself when I learned I had pneumonia and was being hospitalized. It was
humbling to admit I didn’t have my act all together. Yet, I knew I had to admit
my need. It was the right thing to do and how could you even know how to care
unless I admitted I needed care.
Then, having others visit me in the hospital
meant so much. Debbie Ranke even stopped by before her shift began to pray with
me and give me a hug. She even graciously scolded me for being a workaholic…words
I needed to hear. And words could never express how much I appreciated knowing
I was loved and cared for.
The bottom line is we all need care. I was
truly embarrassed recently and apologized to one of our members for being so
obtuse. Someone shared with me that this lady hesitated to go out at night to church
events because she went home to an empty house. What a simple thing…for someone
to go home with her and make sure she’s okay. Or, to at least be available for
a phone call after she arrived home to know that all was well.
Only those on the receiving end know how much
it means when someone shares a meal. It’s not the meal, it reminds you that you’re
loved. Or, visiting someone in the hospital or making time to go to the funeral
visitation when someone has lost a loved one. It can be something as simple as
knowing their name, the names of their children and taking a personal interest
in their children…and even their grandchildren.
Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another” (John 13:35). But are we? Are we known for our love
for each other? Too often we let the excuse of busyness steal opportunities to share
love. Yet, when we give love, guess what happens? We grow, we’re blessed, we’re
fulfilled and our Father is pleased! Loving others is rarely convenient. It’s demands
something too many of us greedily cling to – our time – Me time. We must make
it a priority.
And for us to love each other, we must be
willing to pull aside the masks and become transparent. It could start with
just some transparency about prayer needs, admitting we don’t have our act all
together. We all struggle with a myriad of sins and temptations. How much more
victorious we would be if we knew how to pray for one another and then did it.
Then, share if you need help. What fun to
paint a room with a brother or sister or install some gadget! Help someone
plant their garden. I have lifelong friends to this day (Russ and Linda Johns)
because when I was a young man, I helped them wash the walls in their home.
Make cookies for a single. Open your home. Invite someone out for a cup of
coffee or a bite to eat after church.
And yes, I’m going to be a broken record. Please
don’t just attend the worship service. Be part of a small group…if for no other
reason than for the fellowship. Switch what service you go to for a month just
so you meet brothers and sisters you don’t know. May Grace Church be known as
the church where we love each other and others…and God is pleased!
Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI -- .
No comments:
Post a Comment