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As we find ourselves in the midst of Presidential debates and polarizing political discussions, this quote comes at an appropriate time:

A political movement by nature draws lines, makes distinctions, pronounces judgment; in contrast, Jesus’ love cuts across lines, transcends distinctions, and dispenses grace. Regardless of the merits of a given issue — whether a pro-1ife lobby out of the Right or a peace-and-justice lobby out of the Left — political movements risk pulling onto themselves the mantle of power that smothers love.

If I cannot show love to such people, then I must question whether I have truly understood Jesus’ gospel.
–Philip Yancey

Is your compassion large enough to allow you to retain love and humility while you are also standing up for the things that you believe in. Jesus stood up for what He believed in with love and humility all the way to the point where they nailed Him to the cross. And then, and THEN, instead of spewing anger at those who put Him there, He looked at them with love and prayed: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

May we have the same heart of love and compassion and humility while we also hold to our standards. May we look at others, not with anger and hatred for being on the “wrong side” of an issue, but rather look at them with compassion, hoping to one day win them to the side of Truth.

Compassion linked to the gospel is compassion that goes beyond merely observing hurting people; it sees hurting people and realizes that Jesus loves them furiously. Ultimately, then, it’s not our compassion but the compassion of Jesus that fuels and sustains our desire to act on others’ behalf. When We remember how gracious and compassionate Christ has been to us, our compassion is as sustainable as our remembrance of the gospel. Without Him, compassion will slowly but surely devolve into a weepy moment that we forget as soon as the commercial ends or someone breaks the mood with a joke.
–Matt Chandler

Gospel-based compassion is based upon the love of Jesus. It is seeing the world through Jesus’ eyes. But we will only have this type of compassion as we remember the great compassion Jesus had for us. Our remembrance of the gospel and how it has radically changed our lives leads us into deeper care and concern for others. When I realize that I was unworthy of His love due to my sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions, and yet He loved me anyway all the way to the cross, then it reminds me that I should love others in the same way. We love because He first loved us. I hope that your understanding of the gospel makes a difference in your compassion for others today. I hope that your heart breaks for others around you today as you look at them through the eyes of Jesus with the compassion, care, concern, and love of Him.

There is tremendous relief in knowing that God’s love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me.
–J. I. Packer

We all wonder if those around us would love us if they really knew us. “If they knew the real me, the real struggles I have, the real doubts, the real thoughts that go through me, the real ugliness that sometimes is within my heart and mind and soul, the real jealousy, the real anger…. If they could see all of that, would they still be willing to say, “I love you”?

Fortunately the answer to that question when asked of God is that He would say – “I do know all of that about you, and I love you completely. I know every terrible thought you have had and yet I love you more than anyone else ever has or ever will. I loved you before you were born and I will love you to the very end. My hope is that you will realize this truth and that you will love me in return so that you can be with me for all eternity.”

I love the fact that there is no way I can mess up God’s love for me (and don’t believe Satan when he tries to tell you otherwise using guilt and shame). And I love the fact that though my heart is, at times, wretched and corrupt, I can put my faith in the love of Jesus so I can be with Him forever.

There is no discovery that He can make that can disillusion Him about me. He loves me in spite of myself. And I am so thankful He does.

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God.

For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.
–Thomas à Kempis

Amen.
I would rather experience any and all of the fruits of the Spirit than to know the definition of each one. May we choose today to love God and serve Him with every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak, and every thought we think.

Do you know what my deepest cry to God has become, the cry that burns, the one that draws sobs from my heart and tears from my eyes every time?

“Oh God, please don’t leave me like this. I want more of You. Please don’t leave me like this.”

–Fred Stoeker & Stephen Arterburn

May your prayer today be:
“God, please don’t leave me like this. I want more of You. Change me. Mold me. Make me more like Jesus.”