Showing Sympathy

 

One of the advantages of being involved in community is that when we suffer through hard times there are people to walk alongside us. If we need encouragement, then we know we will be encouraged; likewise if we are needing sympathy, then others will show us sympathy.

It would be very sad if during our darkest times we had no one to put their arms around us and to remind us: "God is with you - and so are we!"

In his letter to the early church, Peter encouraged the Christians to show sympathy to one another:
"...Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."

As Jerry Ellis states - “We are all fragile threads, but what a tapestry we make.” 

Our tapestry shows off the array of it's colours when believers walk alongside each other.

Who can you show sympathy to this week?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Living in Community

Living in any community is not always easy. Even in a small group of people (family sized) there will always be something that will cause us frustration. The same applies in churches, schools, places of work and social clubs - little irritations crop up which cause us to pull away from these groups of people for a while. 

In the end, it is the desire to belong and be connected, that draws us back into community again. We were designed to be in community! As Trevor Hudson remarked – “Clearly, the climate for growth and deepening in discipleship is community. We can’t become the people God created us to be without experiencing divine and human relationships.”

      Solomon agreed. He wrote “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

      Living in Grace

     D3LM3

Shutting up the bullies

There are moments when we just wish that the bullies of this world would have their just rewards. This does happen eventually, but we are often not there to witness it. Taking a look at Psalm 86, with the fresh insights of Eugene Peterson, it is interesting to note David's unique prayer:

"Make a show of how much you love me
    so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully    put me back on my feet." - Psalm 86:16-17

His prayer is not so much that the bullies are physically assaulted, but rather that God's love is shown to be so overwhelming that all they can do is stand with their mouths wide open in amazement. The way that God restores David's troubled life will prove to be such a testimony that it will shut up the religious bullies for good.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Love is its own reward

Thomas Merton once mused:
"Love seeks only one thing: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward."

In this month of love, wouldn't it be amazing if we all sought the good of the ones we love without seeking any other reward. Imagine that 'LOVE' was all the reward we needed?

1 John 4:11 - "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Wash away the mud

 

 
"If by life rightly led, you wash away the mud that has been put on your heart, the Godlike beauty will again shine out in you." - Gregory of Nyssa

The words of Gregory reminded me that we all have the imprint of God upon our lives, but the troubles we face, the sins we commit and the struggles we endure, all throw mud onto our hearts. When we realise this, we need to ask the Spirit of God to wash away all the dirt and help us to shine again.

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." - Hebrews 10:22

Living in Grace
D3LM3

I would like...

What would you like at the moment?

World peace? 
No load-shedding?
Victory for your favourite sports team?
A day off to catch your breath?

Brigid of Ireland expressed her desire for what she would like when she wrote:
 
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.

Our times of prayer are often a list of the things we would like from the Lord, but it is worth thinking about what Christ may like from us?

 Proverbs 19:22 - "What a person desires is unfailing love..."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Identity

Identity is such an important thing for us as people. We want to know who we are and we also want to know that we belong somewhere. When Peter writes to the early church he reminds them that there was a time when they didn't really belong, but through the mercy of God and through the love of Jesus they have been given a new identity.

“Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;    now you have received God’s mercy." - 1 Peter 2:10

Living in the 21st century is, in some ways, no different than struggling in the 1st century - once we know we have an identity and that we 'belong' this gives us a reason to live. It is Christ who gives us our new identity - we are children of God.

What do you think?

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” -  Ralph Ellison

Living in Grace
D3LM3