Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Compassion That Bears Witness

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:13-24

Key Verse Vs 23

V23 “And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” 

DEVOTION

It is so astonishing to think how the author of the three letters of John wrote these books for the people of his time, but applies directly to us who live thousands of years later. 1 John talks about the reassurance of the full access to the truth and the importance of godly living in the conscience of being God’s loved children. Chapter 3 reminds us on how hatred towards Christians began in the very first century itself (v.13); how love towards God and our fellow beings is not just a feeling, but should be evident through our actions (v.16); and how the truth of Christ alone can bring us to eternal life (v.15)- and these are parts of the 21st century spiritual warfare, too.
In this loud and fast world, we tend to live in oblivion to those in need around us, failing to care for them, and ignorant to their genuinely eager eyes. We take the cross and God’s love for granted, and keep forgetting the words of our Savior to love one another. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We sometimes exist as Christians and attend church just for namesake and just for a formality, not being able to be compassionate and not ready to share what we have, even to those in our near vicinity. The cross equals to true love, true love demonstrates compassion, and compassion bears our witness back to Christ. The abundance of life we have should be shared, distributed to keep God’s commands (v.24) and His love should be spread to the ends of the world. Loving one another brings forth the actions of sharing and caring.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, open my heart to love more, open my eyes to see more and open my mind to care more. May my hands be Your hands to show your love in my actions and may my compassionate deeds reveal Your glory. Amen.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer.


Remya Rachel Thomas
Chicago Mar Thoma Church, Illinois

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