Who Do You Think You Are?

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

The past several days, my quiet time held some real challenges for me. In the devotional
book called, "Grace for the Moment", by Max Lucado, He tells the story of Leo Tolstoy,
the great Russian writer who was walking down the street and saw a beggar. He stopped because he felt compassion for him and reached into his pockets to drop some coins in the man's cup, but found no money. He said to the man, "I'm sorry brother," smiled,  gave him a word of encouragement. 
The beggar was not upset at all for not getting a few paltry coins. Instead, he said, was thrilled that Leo had called him,' brother'. 

Leo did not give the man a wide berth and stick his nose in the air, totally ignoring the man. He did not scowl and berate him for being in such a state. Instead, he looked on him with compassion and tried to help him monetarily, but instead ended up giving him something far better than money...he gave him compassion and friendship.

It is so easy to do walk around the long way to avoid someone in need, however that is not what Jesus would have done.

In 1 John 3:17 we read these words.


But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

Here is my question for you. 
If we do not do as Jesus did and do not treat our brothers and sisters in Christ with compassion when they have a need, how can we say that we love God? 

Let's take it a little bit further. How can we claim to be a Christian and not show the world that we care about their souls or their needs?  How can we keep our love to ourselves? Love was meant to share. Like the song says, "Love isn't love until you give it away..."

Jesus talked about this very subject when He told the story of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:30-37

30.   And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 
         and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and
         departed, leaving him half dead. 

31.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, 
        he passed by on the other side. 

32.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and 
        passed by on the other side. 

33.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw 
       him, he had compassion on him, 

34.  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him 
       on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

35.  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to 
        the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest 
        more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36.  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among
         the thieves? 

37.  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do 
        thou likewise. 

Jesus commended the one who was not really among the "in crowd" because he had compassion while the others judged the man who was robbed and beaten. Judging is easy, but compassion is what pleases Jesus. It is that simple.

Just because someone snubs you does not mean that you have to do the same to them or to anyone else. I had this happen to me recently. I met someone in a grocery store who at one time was an acquaintance. When she saw me, she turned the other way and totally ignored me even though I had done nothing to offend her. I was being judged, but that did not give me license to do the same. I am to act as Jesus would have me to act and to forgive without being asked. Judging is instantaneous, compassion keeps on giving.

So that leads to the final questions.

•  Who do you think you are? 
•  Are you better than everyone else or do you play on a level playing field? 

Jesus died for everyone of us. He loves everyone of us. It is up to us to act like Jesus and love as He would have us to do. That's a tall order for a Valentine's Day!

Thanks for reading.

Donna