Colossians 3:12 NASB
So, as those
who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
This
week I have shared some things with you that are close to my heart, things that
I am passionate about and ministry that keeps me going in awesome ways. I really do love what I get to do for a
living and the people I get to do it with.
But
some days are tough. This stuff is heavy
in so many ways, and it is important to learn how to deal with my own heart
when things get in unexpected. Go a
little further because some times we let things into our heart that aren’t easy
to deal with.
It is
critical that we put on a “heart of compassion” so that we can give others what
we have received from God. As Paul wrote
to the church at Corinth when passing on to them the Lord’s supper he said that
it was his responsibility to pass on to others what God had given to him. We have to give it all away. All that God has done for us and given to us
is what we can give to others.
Some
people are hoarders. A hoarder is a
person who keeps everything and stuffs it all away for some later imagined
use. They will often keep things that
are useless, things that are most people’s trash, and much more. If we treat the things God has given us like
that, we are totally wrong.
It is
time to give it away. God has given us
mercy. We ought to be merciful to those
in need. God has soothed our pain and
dealt kindly with our struggles. In turn
we listen to the words of those suffering, pray with those who are down and
lift those we are honored to be able to share with.
Again,
there are some things that get a hold on our heart. Much of what takes hold of our heart is heavy
and difficult. Because I am a pastor I
love the people I am blessed to serve, and these people have my heart.
I
listen to a man who has battled addiction for many years, but in the last few
months he has come to realize how much God loves him. The passion this guy has for sharing with
others and giving away the hope that God has given him is so real.
Another
friends unwraps their heart revealing deep pain due to broken
relationships. There are many people who
are hurting and wounded in the situation.
This is heavy. It breaks my
heart. I want to be able to comfort
those who are hurting and fix the situation.
What I end up doing is simply being there, praying and encouraging these
special people close to my heart.
I look
at the physical pain that people are going through like a young person battling
cancer, and their family is having a very hard time. We all deal with the situations of life
differently. Often I wish that I could
heal some one only to remember that God has a plan, and God’s plan is
perfect. I don’t understand, and we must
not make others think we have it all together.
Really we are just as broken and hurting as those we deal with.
That
is why we have to learn how to deal with the heavy things that are
difficult. Our prayers need to be strong
and always flowing. As a counselor I
need to have a counselor that I can share my heart with. As a husband and father I cannot allow the heaviness
to disconnect me from the most important people.
“A
heart of compassion” is where it all comes together. Jesus is our example in how he loved people
and how He stayed connected to His father.
I am learning. Staying connected
to God is not optional. Because this
stuff is heavy we need the father!
Matthew 9:36 NLT
When he saw
the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd.
NOTE:
this Sunday morning is time change. Plan
to ‘spring forward’ setting your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed
Saturday night.
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