The power of compassion II

The power of compassion II

ByPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes

Peace to you, dear readers of «Daily Word for Spiritual Edification»!

Yesterday we talked about the importance and the power of compassion. We discussed the fact that we need to grow in mercy and compassion, because otherwise we won’t be able to serve people and please God.

Let’s look at one more passage of Scripture.

«Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, „Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” – that they might accuse him» (Mathew, 12 9-10).

Here we see a very ill man with a withered hand. Also we see some Pharisees who knew Jesus would heal this man. Nevertheless they asked Him a question in order to accuse Him. And it was because Pharisees lived according to the letter of the law, but this law of freedom had enslaved them and turned them into heartless religious workers.

This is what Jesus said to them:

«Then Jesus said to them, „What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath”» (Mathew, 12: 11-1).

Jesus answered that it is good and right to do good, heal and help people on the Sabbath if there is compassion in your heart. You can even go to the ends of the earth breaking common norms and human rules to save a life of one man.

If you have at least some compassion in your heart, you won’t think about people’s opinions and or about the lack of something; you will only think of how to save a man in danger of eternal damnation.

It was compassion that moved Jesus to heal the ill man.

«Then He said to the man, „Stretch out your hand”. And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other» (Mathew, 12:13).

After Jesus performed this miracle, Pharisees began conspiring and seeking to destroy Him. Jesus learnt about it and left the area; people followed Him and He healed them too.

We see God Who places compassion above all other things. And God tells us as a Church that we should put compassion above all other things. If we will be moved and motivated by compassion and the desire to save people, then we will have more results, more success and we will move forward no matter what we lack and how unprepared we seemingly are.

Of course, this does not mean that we should not prepare and grow in knowledge and skill. It is this same compassion that motivates us to grow so that we can be better ministers of the Gospel. But our shortcomings should not stop us! While we are thinking and contemplating of them, we are losing time, while people around us are perishing. We should get to work speedily.

Whatever is in your power, do it today.

Be blessed! We will continue tomorrow!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

Similar Posts

  • Why is it so important to hold on to eternal life?

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 5 minutes
    If you won’t be alert and pray, you won’t even notice how eternal life will slip away from you. Have you ever tried to hold a live fish in your hands? Even if you manage to take it, it can cunningly slip out of your hands. In the very same way eternal life can slip away from you without you even noticing. You won’t notice the moment when that happens. You could go on with your religious activities, attending church meetings, praying, reading the Bible, but not be on the way to eternal life. None of these things is able to guarantee to you that you will surely keep eternal life. You know, so many unbelievers do all these things: they go to church, read their Bibles, pray.

  • You cannot multiply what you do not sow

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    We are still talking about necessity to use the gifts that have been given to us by the Lord. Jesus wants every person to be faithful in little things and then God will place such a person over greater things. God presents everyone with opportunities to start serving Him and bringing forth fruit for God’s Kingdom. You cannot multiply what you do not sow.In the Gospel of Mathew Jesus told a parable about Master giving his servants different talents.

  • The fruitfulness of a Christian starts with the discovery of God’s will in all areas of his life and the readiness to fulfills it

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 5 minutes
    «And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God» (Romans, 12: 2).We are filled with the knowledge of God’s will through renewing our minds by the Word of God. Through the renewal of our minds we learn to think as God thinks and look at our lives through His eyes. You won’t be able to please God if you are not doing His will for your life. In order to do His will you first need to discover it. That is why wise people who want to bring real fruit for God through their lives devote themselves to discovering and comprehending what God wants to do in their lives and through their lives. We have pointed out many times that a person can become fruitful by renewing of his or her mind through personal fellowship with God, prayer and intensive study of God’s Word.

  • Prayer must be my first priority

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    Today I would like to talk more about the third point. I finished saying that prayer is more about what God wants to tell you and what He wants to do in your life and not what you want to tell Him. So you do not need to tell God what is on your heart; allow God to work through His Word giving Him opportunity to work in your heart and reveal to you His plans. If you want to hear God, you cannot be in a hurry. Effective prayer has nothing to do with haste.

  • Poverty and failure have roots and laziness is an obvious one

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    One of the reasons for spiritual coldness and lukewarmness is negligence and laziness. Marital failure, financial poverty, failure in ministry and many other forms of poverty can all be traced back to the same root of negligence or dealing with a slack hand.“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4)

  • We have to strengthen our spirit

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    The Bible states «A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?» (Proverbs 18:14). Satan wants to hit our spirit via hardships, trials and problems. When your spirit is strengthened, you can overcome any kind of weakness, get through all kind of hardships and trials. So how can we strengthen our spirit? God´s word and His promises strengthen our spirit and overcome weakness and sufferings. In order to not give up, we need to learn how to lean on the word of God and His promises – fully and unconditionally. We have to learn God´s faithfulness and realise that God will never forsake us unless we abandon Him ourselves.