Christians must be able to flex two muscles at the same time, compassion and courage. Jesus did this, and so did the early church, and so must we.
Our courage is to be demonstrated in a hostile world that is lost and dying, as they demonstrate antipathy toward us and their anti-Christian hostility deepens each day.
Our culture views us as the mystic prophets of the absolute, and they want nothing to do with us or our message of eternal life. They believe they can and must save themselves at whatever cost of blasphemy or heresy.
However, we must also demonstrate compassion to people who despise our Savior and us, His ambassadors, simply because we tell them they are not perfect and cannot save themselves. (The serpent enticed Eve with the possibility that she would know and be like God. The utopian urge is always within us.)
The way to find compassion for the lost is to remember that I was once one of them myself, and so were you. But when I was lost, the kindness of God was brought forth to me. (Ephesians 2:1-8)
Compassion is a feeling and grace is an action. God had both for me and has both for “them", and I get to tell them about the One who gives both.
We live in a complex and complicated world. It can often delude the eyes and beguile the heart. But its end is death, and its destination is eternal Hell, separation from God.
I hope you have a sense of urgency to share the truth evidenced by love. Remember, John 13:35- “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us, Fred | 