Having Bible knowledge and understanding is great, however if the scriptures are not living and active in our lives, it is all in vain (Hebrews 4:12-13). The life application selections contain thoughts provoking, real life challenges that will prayerfully transform us to be more like Jesus in our spiritual journey. James 1:23-27 challenges us to not just merely listen or read the scriptures, it says “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” Do not miss your blessings my friends!
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
What does it look like as a follower of Jesus Christ to clothe myself with compassion? Jesus during his ministry demonstrated the definition of compassion for us to follow as he interacted with people. Jesus learned from God, his father, how essential compassion was to his ministry (Isaiah 49:15, Exodus 33:19, etc.). Throughout the Gospel, Jesus showed the difference between empathy, feeling compassionate and showing compassion which are similar but different. According to the Webster dictionary, empathy refers to an active sharing in someone’s emotional experience, but compassion takes empathy a step further by having the desire to alleviate the person's distress. The hardest part for me is having the desire to alleviate the person's distress and feeling helpless because having a desire doesn't mean you are able to alleviate the person's struggle. In Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus’ empathy toward the young man was genuine but his desire to set him free was not successful because the young man’s wealth was his idol and security. Knowing that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, he must have felt heartache when the young man went away sad. Jesus’s compassion was evident, but he was not able to execute his desire to relieve the spiritual suffering of the young man. The young man had to have an open heart and mind to receive the compassion offered by Jesus. In my own walk with Jesus, I am learning my desire to help people through my empathy and compassion for them may not be possible. In my feeling of helplessness, I often find myself frustrated asking God the why questions and wishing he would allow me to do more. God, through Jesus Christ, reminds me that nothing happens outside of the will of God. He, Jehovah, orders every step (Ephesians 1:11). Maturity in Jesus Christ can only come through believing that God’s Words are spirit and life (John 6:63). Therefore, even the worst scenarios are in his hand. “The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4).” Studying the word compassion has helped me realize how important it is to not merely read the scripture but “…pay attention to it, as a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart” (2 Peter 1:19).
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
If you have been receiving the ministry’s weekly reflection, you will notice a shift for the months of June and July. As guided by God’s Holy Spirit, we will be focusing on what it means to be clothed with Jesus by putting into practice the attributes listed in Colossians 3:12 as we are striving or seeking to be like Jesus in our Christian/Discipleship journey. My prayer the past few years has been about asking God to clothe me with Jesus so that I can love like he did as his daughter. You notice I did not say trying! According to Webster dictionary, trying is defined as "to make an attempt at" or "to put to test or trial." The word striving in contrast is defined as "to devote serious effort or energy." Although we know as long as we are on this earth, we will not reach our full perfection (2 Corinthians 5:1-5), nonetheless Jesus calls us to strive to live a life that mirrors the perfection of our heavenly Father. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mathew 5:48). In 1Peter 1:16, the apostle is reminding us that it is a command to pursue/strive for holiness like God our Father. "Be holy as I am." In our Christian journey, trying is not an option but striving to win the eternal crown is an expectation to become victorious at the end of this earth. Revelation 21:7-8, "Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
What is our role as a helper in the life of a man? I read a commentary that was shared from the Key Bible Verses series that said, “The term does not imply that the helper is either stronger or weaker than the one helped.” They further stated that, “a wife is not her husband’s clone but complements him.” As noted by Herbert Lockyer in his book about all women in the Bible, throughout history men have used the word helper as an inferior word to mistreat women in their pride and ignorance. Our enemy used what God has created to fulfill his excellency to shame and mistreat God’s daughters.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Life is a race! Which race are you running in? As I meditate on the first question that Apostle Paul asked in verse 24, it brought me to Mathew chapter 7:13-14 when Jesus made it clear there are two roads that every person must choose from. The narrow gate according to Jesus leads to life and wide gate leads to destruction. Are we running with the crowd toward the wide gate? Let's be honest! The wide gate oftentimes seems much more appealing which is Satan's plan so that he draws us to him. When we choose to run toward the wide road, we create our own destiny. We have no regard for others besides our goals and accomplishments. Our success and accomplishment are driven and focused on how the system or people within your circle define you. In the eyes of the world, you might be viewed as a smart, powerful, independent thinker, role model, successful and free spirit to do what you want. We thrive to earn the praises of men even when we know it goes against truth and often our conscience.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
When someone tells you to be strong, what comes to your mind? Apostle Paul was calling the disciples to be strong not in their might but in the power of God, Ephesians 6:1. Apostle Paul was helping his fellow Christian to know they are in a war because Satan will not stop, and he is full of schemes. His warning stands for everyone who says Jesus is Lord. We are in a war. And we must arm ourselves properly to fight this raging war.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.
This incredible promise from Jesus is one of the reasons for my zeal as a servant of the living God. Jesus is the gate that leads to a land filled with milk and honey. In life, I meet many people who are seeking happiness and peace. I was once one of these people. They are often frustrated because every time they think this is it, disappointments and setbacks overwhelm them. Jesus is offering a land that we can have access to that we truly seek. He is calling us to a green land where joy, peace, and true happiness reside. His promise has no condition, he simply accepts a willing heart to walk with him and to keep the words of the prophesy that is in the Bible (Revelation 22:7). Apostle John was given the honor to see the restoration of God’s pasture that is promised to those of us who choose to enter through Jesus, our gate. This was God’s original plan in the garden of Eden when Satan deceived Adam and Eve (Genesis-3). “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse! The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).
