“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate are two qualities that seem to be in short supply these days. These are two words that would serve us well in this time of post-election blues. When our world tells us to look up to our sports stars, movie stars, political commentators and musicians it becomes more evident that we are holding up the wrong people to idolize as the world tells us that if we are kind and compassionate instead of mean and always being number one than we are weak and not strong.
To forgive as God forgave us requires great courage and great strength; this fallen world tells us otherwise. The attached photo of a young girl at Labodrie seems to scream out the words ‘kind and compassionate’ when you look into her eyes. Serving His children in Haiti is a humbling experience and the fruits of your labor and their labor will bring more children and adults into the Kingdom. The hymn ‘All Depends on Our Possessing’ was written by an unknown author in Germany in 1673 and then translated by Catherine Winkworth in 1858 and words seemed like a fitting way to close this devotion.
“All depends on our possessing God's abundant grace and blessing, though all earthly wealth depart. He who trusts with faith unshaken in His God is not forsaken and e'er keeps a dauntless heart. He who hitherto hath fed me and to many joys hath led me, is and ever shall be mine. He who did so gently school me, He who still doth guide and rule me, will remain my Help divine. Many spend their lives in fretting over trifles and in getting things that have no solid ground. I shall strive to win a treasure that will bring me lasting pleasure and that now is seldom found. When with sorrow I am stricken, hope my heart anew will quicken, all my longing shall be stilled. To His loving-kindness tender soul and body I surrender; for in Him alone I build. Well He knows what best to grant me; all the longing hopes that haunt me, joy and sorrow, have their day. I shall doubt His wisdom never, as God wills, so be it ever, I to Him commit my way. If on earth my days He lengthen, He my weary soul will stengthen; all my trust in Him I place. Earthly wealth is not abiding, like a stream away is gliding; safe I anchor in His grace.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay