Day 14: A Compassionate Father

I praise and thank the Lord today for the rest that He gives His children.

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent with long lost families.

But it was also tiring and exhausting especially with the commute, the long hours of waiting, talking, and catching up, and the children running around and constantly getting my attention.

I thank the Lord for the uneventful day He has given us today as we recharge and rest for our date with Jesus tomorrow at Sunday service.

As I was having my quiet time this morning, the Lord spoke to my heart as I encountered this verse:

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. – Luke 6:35-36

It is an all too familiar message…

Love your enemies.

For more than half a decade now, the Lord has been gently and patiently pursuing me about loving my enemies.

In these past few years, I experienced some of the most heartbreaking revelations in my life.

But during these same years have I also experienced tremendous breakthroughs as I experience the Lord in a more personal way.

But what really got my attention about this verse is this particular character of God…

He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Oh, how difficult it is to be kind to those who mistreat you and wish your misfortune!

Really, it is impossible to be a CHRISTian without Christ in our lives.

Then, the part of the verse above was followed by…

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Showing kindness is one thing, but being compassionate to the ungrateful and the wicked is a totally different level altogether.

The human tendency is to look at the speck in other people’s eyes. To look at the imperfect things other people do. To dwell and talk about the offense other people have done.

Looking at the cross reminds me that Jesus died FOR ME so that I may be FORGIVEN — forgiven from my past, present, and future sins. This forgiveness does not give me a FREE PASS to sin, no!

What I’m saying is that if we look at ourselves from the cross’s perspective, it is the perfect example of the Lord’s compassion shown towards unthankful and wicked people.

Yes, people like you and me.

It gives us a proper perspective that we’re not superior over others. Not over our neighbors. Not over our friends. Not over our enemies.

The Lord doesn’t show favoritism but He honors those who acknowledge their need for Him, those who trust Him, those who put their hope in Him.

Thank You, My Jesus!

First of all, I want to thank You, Lord, for reassuring our desired family theme for this year — KINDNESS. Aside from love, the world needs more of this and I thank You for the opportunity to be intentional about teaching our children on how to develop this character.

I thank You for humbling me and reminding me that I am not better than nor superior to anyone — not even to those who have acted arrogantly by being ungrateful nor to those who have done wicked things. Help me be compassionate, Abba, just as You are compassionate and patient towards me. Change my heart, Lord. Let me look at my enemies from Your eyes as I pray for them and their salvation. Yes, Lord, they need you. Yes, Lord, I need you.

Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place on the cross and making my forgiveness possible. Help me show the same grace You have shown me, my Lord, as I keep in mind that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). I also know that it is when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 2:10) because I know that it is YOU working in me.