Fatherly Compassion

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:10-14

A good father is sensitive to the relationship he shares with his child.  It is his desire to train and discipline, but always with the intention of preserving the bond.  Too hard and the connection will be broken under the strain.  Too soft and the respect weakens.  God shows such fatherly compassion to me as His child.

Sin.  I could be a big disappointment to God.  After all, He made me for relationship with Him yet I fail to live life the way He created me to live (Romans 3:23).  I often go my own way, stubbornly refusing His advances and willfully attempt life on my own, under my terms with the goal of pleasing myself.  

Still, His love preserved the bond between He and I by designing a plan for redemption (Titus 2:14).  Out of His love for me and a desire to protect the Father/child relationship, He offered His own Son as a sacrifice to atone for my sins (Romans 5:8).  Now, through faith in Jesus Christ, my sins have been forgiven, removed from me as if I were Jesus, the One without sin (John 3:16-17, Isaiah 1:18).

Therefore, when my Father looks upon me, the wrath is gone, the disappointment doesn't exist, there is no disgust in my choices.  Instead, all that remains is love, and it is the greatest of all powers (1 Corinthians 13:13)!

God shows His fatherly compassion by loving me enough to give His own Son in order to preserve our relationship.

Comfort.  The news was difficult.  To hear he would never drive again, that his freedom had been snatched away, a piece of his identity destroyed was the worst news of his hard life.  How could he bear the thought of never getting out on his motorcycle to enjoy the scenery along the open road?  There was nothing the daughter could say to her dad to give him comfort.  Instead, she relied upon the Father of compassion to do the consoling (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

No one can comfort like our Father can.  He knows exactly what each of us needs to hear, and He has His ways of giving just what each of His children need in order to encourage, uplift, and give a hopeful outlook.  

When all seems lost, His supernatural compassion soothes my aching heart, binding up my wounds and setting the hurts to healing.  When the pain is so great, He mysteriously brings relief and shows me a glimpse of His heart for me.  When I feel I cannot carry on, He strengthens my resolve and gives me a fresh outlook on life.  

God shows His fatherly compassion by comforting me in ways only possible for Him as my Father.

Sanctification.  He loves me too much to leave me as I am.  It is God's desire as my Father to grow me in grace, to purify me for His purposes, to lead me through a life-long process that chisels away more and more of me to make way for more and more of Him.  It is His desire that I resemble His Son when the process is complete (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 3:2).

Therefore, as a daughter of a compassionate Father such as this, I can expect to be molded through difficult experiences, shaped into Christ-likeness through the hard things I endure in faith, formed into the Jesus model by every life-moment (Romans 8:29).  Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom, for He uses it all to transform me into the woman I'm meant to be.

God shows His fatherly compassion by walking me through the life-long sanctification process that ends at the glory of His Son.

Many of us do not know what good fathering looks like, but as we grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father, we learn what it means to have a good Father.  He preserves my relationship through His plan of redemption, comforting me as only He can, and takes me through a life-long process of sanctification.  In these ways, I experience fatherly compassion at its best!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough as my Father to let Him comfort me when things are hard.

When do I attempt to live my own life instead of cooperating with the sanctification process my Father loves me enough to walk me through?

How do I live as if my sin defines me instead of living as the one who has been set free? 

Intimacy

"I correct and discipline everyone I love.

So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Look!

I stand at the door and knock.

If you hear my voice

and open the door,

I will come in,

and we will share a meal together as friends."

Revelation 3:19-20 NLT

My relationship with my daughter has changed through the years.  At first it was completely one-sided as she demanded my attention and depended completely on me to provide for her needs.  As she's grown, she has been able to do more and more for herself until the girl became a woman and she didn't need me anymore.  While this stage can be painful for any mother to endure, I relished the time because I knew it was an opportunity to be able to relate to her in a more intimate, mature way.  Now I want more than just a superficial relationship with my adult daughter.  While it's nice to see her and know what her needs are, I long for a deep connection in which she shares her heart of hearts.

God is similar to me as a parent in this way.  He craves a close connection to me where I invite Him in to hang out with me throughout the day.  The problem is, it's easy to get caught up in traditions of religion; following a set of rules taught by men instead of going after the kind of intimacy for which my Father yearns.  It seems I need a clearer picture of what a real relationship with Him looks like.

Discipline

"This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you."

These were the words my father uttered as I lay across his lap as he prepared to spank me.  While I don't remember the exact transgression that landed me in that position, I do remember wondering what he meant.  Clearly, the stinging in my back end was evidence that my dad's words were a little silly!

Any parent who cares about his or her child takes the time and effort to discipline them.  Even though it may be uncomfortable to bring about pain and suffering in my son or daughter's life, knowing that it will help to correct their disobedience is motivation enough to enact the penalty.  

In the same way, God shows His love for me by placing circumstances, difficulties and trials of all kinds to draw me closer to myself.  (Hebrews 12:5-6)  Many times, I am the biggest obstacle in my relationship with my Father.  Therefore, it is necessary for Him to use these difficult times to purify me so I can better relate to, connect with and depend on Him. (Malachi 3:3)

Therefore, while I'm in the middle of a job loss, wondering from where my next meal will come, I can realize my Father is purging every bit of my independent, self-sufficient tendencies from within me.  Or, when I experience the pain of physical suffering, I can remember that my Father is cleansing away the filth of prideful arrogance.  Or, during the times when I suffer the loss of a loved one, I can keep in mind that my Father is ridding me of a temporal focus and replacing it with a heavenly one.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father includes a healthy dose of discipline.

Companionship

My dog loves to be in my presence.  In fact, he follows me around the house while I am doing my chores, coming along behind me as I go from room to room.  He is of no help to me at all; never lending a paw when I need it because his intent is not to assist me in any way.  Instead, he is only concerned with keeping me company.

Isn't this the attitude God desires from me?  In the place of looking for ways to serve Him, He yearns for constant inclusion in my life.  (Proverbs 3:6)  It pleases Him when I take after my pup and want to be in His presence during every moment of the day.  

In addition, its not a perfectly formed child with whom He wants to hang out, but rather one who is open and honest with her flaws and struggles.  After all, He already knows everything there is to learn about me! (Psalm 139:1-12) I can't really hide anything from Him and I'm fooling myself when I try.  Instead, He wants me to share what is really going on in my heart because that is what develops closeness.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father develops when I strive to stay near to Him while fighting against insincerity.

Attentiveness

"So what I hear you saying is that you are tired of picking up my dirty socks and would like me to place them in the hamper?"  Active listening is an important part of any relationship but especially in marriage because confidence in one another is built when each feels the other understands.  What is the point of taking the time to communicate a grievance if the hearer doesn't even comprehend the message?

Being a good listener is important when building relationships.  As in any human bond, my connection to my Father grows stronger when I pay attention to what He says.  Sometimes His words come as the gentle whisper of His Spirit to mine.  Other times, He conveys His message through the pages of the Bible.  Then there are the times when He speaks through another human being.  

Whatever the mode of delivery, practicing good listening skills will improve my bond to the Lord.  This means I won't simply take in the message, but I'll also respond to what He's telling me.  (James 1:22)  Whether He reminds me of the destructiveness of my tongue, or the importance of tithing, or how vital love is in His kingdom, I will only grow closer to Him if I make the effort to obey.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father develops when I listen closely and respond immediately to His message.

God craves intimacy with His children.  As His precious daughter, I will grow in my relationship with my Father when I accept His discipline, desire His constant companionship, and keep an attentive attitude toward His instruction.  In these ways, I'll grow closer to my Father and the bond between us will strengthen. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can honor my Father's desire for intimacy.

When do I keep God at an arm's length instead of close to my heart?

How am I afraid to admit the truth to Him? 

New Covenant

"This is the covenant I will establish

with the people of Israel after that time,

declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another,

'Know the Lord,'

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more."

Hebrews 8:10-12

We recently refinanced our house to take advantage of a low interest rate offered by a special program available only to Military Veterans.  Under our new mortgage, we enjoy many benefits like a lower monthly payment and calculation of interest based  on the current balance.  Not only does this new agreement ease our monthly budget, but it also provides a long-term benefit in paying off our house sooner.

In a similar way, God made a new agreement between Himself and His people.  Under this new, superior covenant, my sins are forgiven and forgotten through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.  

No longer is my righteousness based upon my ability to follow God's law and the daily priestly animal sacrifices necessary to cover my transgressions.  Instead, the burden of redemption fully rests on the the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God. (John 1:29)  Under this new covenant, His children benefit in many ways.

Letter From Christ

There was no doubt which animal had received the most training.  That final year of belonging to a Beef 4-H group which fosters youth development, I had resolved to bring two animals to the local county fair.  One was a sweet young heifer named "Blossom," the other a lumbering steer dubbed "Hoss" for his 1500 pounds of bulk.  

I spent hours working with Blossom, halter breaking her and teaching her to walk beside me on a lead since she would be the one I would show the most.  Hoss, however, was just going to be there for looks.  He was going before the judges only once to be evaluated on his structure, physical form and muscle development so I reasoned that he only needed minimal training. 

Sure enough, when we got to the fair, it was Hoss who gave me problems, getting loose one day as I took him out for his daily exercise.  Just as the proof of the level of time investment made to each animal was evident in the behavior of my charges, so am I evidence of the work of what Christ has done in my heart as many have spent time in discipling me. (2 Corinthians 3:3)  When I yield to His transforming work, I am a walking billboard for Christ.

One of the benefits of the new covenant is how the Spirit of God breathes new life into me as He writes truth on my heart.

Family Resemblance

One of the most moving parts of a wedding ceremony is at the end when the pastor presents the bride and groom as a married couple for the first time.  "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. John Smith."  Then the happy pair walks down the aisle and out the doors, representing the beginning of their new life together, forever linked by their family name.

As a child of God, I also took on a new name when accepting Christ as my Savior.  As a member of His family, I take on His name as mine, much like a bride assumes the name of her husband (traditionally).  This means I belong to Him with a bond that cannot be broken: I am family. (1 John 3:1-3)

As His child, I am to display the fruit of the indwelling Spirit as I allow Him to change me day by day.  The less there is of me, the more of Him and His love will show.  In this way, people will know I belong to Him because there will be a family resemblance. (John 13:34-35)  

One of the benefits of the new covenant is that I become one of God's people through faith In Jesus Christ.

Relationship

As I spent time with my husband, I got to know him better.  I learned what he liked and what irritated him.  When I hung out with him as he went through the day-to-day aspects of his life, I began to notice patterns and ways of dealing with situations that became closely identified with him.  I even learned to recognize the way he walked which helped when distinguishing him from the rest of the Army Soldiers who wore the same uniform.

If my marriage is going to last, I must continue to work on building my relationship with my husband.  If I stopped taking our relationship seriously once the wedding was over we would simply be roommates living parallel lives:  I must continually desire to know him more deeply.

Just as I want more than superficiality from my marriage, God also desires an intimate relationship with me.  He is not a faraway God who is mysterious and aloof.  Instead, He is a loving God who desires to be included in every part of my life.  (Proverbs 3:6, Revelation 3:20)

One of the benefits of the new covenant is that I can know God.

I am so thankful for this new and improved promise of God offered through faith in Christ.  Because of His great love for me, I can be a walking testimony to His work in my life, take on His family name and attributes, and intimately walk with Him as His child.  All I need to enter into this covenant is to invite Jesus to be Lord of my life!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will submit to the Lord's sovereign plan for my life.

How do I act like I don't belong to God's family?

When do I go through the motions as if I'm only involved in a religion instead of seeking to know my Father better?

Live by Faith

"For when I tried to keep the law,

it condemned me.

So I died to the law

--I stopped trying to meet all its requirements--

so that I might live for God.

My old self has been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me.

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. 

For if keeping the law could make us right with God,

then there was no need for Christ to die."

Galatians 2:19-21 NLT

I put in all the work, doing all the right things; fertilizing, watering and mowing, being careful not to trample on the tender blades of grass.  Still, my lawn did not fill out with the lush, luxuriance I dreamed about.

Doing all the right things is not enough in life or in gardening.  Without the blessing of God, nothing will flourish.  I can plant the seed and take all the steps necessary to make sure it has a good chance, but only God can make that seed sprout and grow into a plant, or a beautiful yard.

This is like my walk with Jesus:  It is not a religion in which I perform certain rituals, jump through certain hoops and live a certain way, resulting in God's favor.  No.  My walk with Jesus is just that:  A walk.  It is a relationship with a real Savior who lives and breathes life into me.  

It is not possible for me to please God through my efforts in following His law.  Instead, I must realize that Jesus died so that I could live for Him by faith, not by works.

I've been Crucified

He faltered again under the heavy burden of the cross, stumbling as He labored up the hill toward the place called, 'Golgotha."  It wasn't the physical weight that hampered his climb, though.  Instead, it was the heaviness of my sin He bore upon Himself that mostly weighed Jesus down.  (1 Peter 2:24)

My old, sinful self died on the cross with Jesus.(v 20) In my old way of living, I had no choice but to do what came naturally in following the desires of my flesh.  I lied, cheated, stole, hated, doubted, disrespected life, showed no regard for God and basically lived for my own comfort and well-being because it was my nature to sin.

Now, however, I have another choice.  Jesus Christ has rescued me from that body of death and provided the option of following Him, allowing His nature to rule in place of mine. (Romans 7:24-25)

To live by faith I must first remember that my sinful nature has been crucified on the cross with Jesus.

Christ can Live

The vine creeps up the arbor, growing longer and longer until the entire archway is covered with the purplish-green leaves, casting a refreshing bit of shade in the midst of a hot summer day.  As I stand underneath the mass of greenery, I marvel at the fact that all of this foliage came from one plant.  When I water, I need only soak the ground around the roots and the branches will benefit from the refreshment.

It is the same with me and Jesus.  Once my own flesh is out of the way, He is free to live through me.  Jesus said that He is the vine and I am the branch.  As long as I stay connected to Him, I will bear His fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23)  Apart from Him, I can do nothing that matters in His kingdom.  (John 15:5)

To live by faith I must stay connected to the Source of all good things: Jesus.

Don't set aside Grace

The store was filled with books written to help me succeed in life, live a more meaningful life, and to learn how to fulfill every dream of my heart.  While these self-help books promise great things, there is only One who can truly bring about healing (Psalm 147:3), holds the blueprint for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) and gives me desires that match up with His (Psalm 37:4).

As I have been freed from the inevitability of sin and given the opportunity to live in tandem with Jesus Christ, the temptation is there to fall back into my old ways.  Sin creeps in so naturally, guiding me down a path away from Jesus.  Before I know it, I am back to trying to be good enough to earn God's favor, turning to common-sense answers, and utilizing behavioral modification instead of letting the power of God change me from the inside out.

To live by faith I must never forget the grace of God that makes my relationship with Him possible.

It's hard for me not to work at doing all the right things as a way of growing closer to Jesus.  He, however, is not impressed with my efforts, but only desires a relationship with me.  In order for me to draw closer to Him, I must remember that my old, sinful self has already been crucified on the cross and need not hold power over me, leaving room for Christ to live within me.  Finally, I must be careful to remember to treasure the grace I've been given that allows me to enjoy a relationship with Jesus, and to make this relationship the most important thing in my life.  In these ways, I will live today by faith instead of by works.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember that I can't please God just by working hard.

How do I try to work my way to Jesus instead of taking the gift of redemption He freely offers me?

When am I most tempted to try to fix myself instead of placing my sin back on the cross, letting Him fill the resulting void?

Heart of God

"'My son,' the father said,

'you are always with me,

and everything I have is yours.

But we had to celebrate and be glad,

because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;

he was lost and is found.'"

Luke 15:31-32

The boy wanted it all.  He was tired of being under his father's thumb; Can't Dad see I'm ready to take on the world?  Why won't he trust me?  he thought.  He had everything he needed, yet it wasn't enough.  What he really wanted was freedom, liberty to spread his wings and find his own way in the world.  I am ready, and I'll prove it to him. 

He was a little surprised his dad gave him his portion of the inheritance.  The eighteen-year-old boy convinced the man that he knew what was best for his life.  Now that he had the money is his bank account, however, it was a little overwhelming.  He decided to take a trip overseas to blow off a little steam before he settled down into preparing for a career.

Much to his chagrin, the boy spent way more than he intended and soon found himself out of money and stranded in Europe. He managed to hitch a ride home on a freighter, working in the galley washing dishes for the sailors and seamen.  Once he made it home, he vowed to never take his father's house for granted.

A week later, he was walking up the driveway toward his home and soon he saw his father running down the lane to meet him.  Wow.  Dad is really glad to see me.  I thought he'd be mad and give me a lecture about blowing my money, but he must really be happy I'm home.

The story of the prodigal son is such a beautiful illustration of God's love, mercy and grace for me, the wayward sinner.  God takes me back as quickly and without question as the father in the story does for his son.  Not only that, it strikes me that the response of the dad to the other, obedient son shows the heart of God.  God is merciful, compassionate and relational.  As a daughter in His family, these should be important characteristics in my life, as well.

Mercy

"That's not fair!"  When working with children, one often hears this phrase.  It's not only children who cry it out in frustration when things don't go their way, though.  I often hear when tragedy strikes that, "She was a good person.  She didn't deserve this."  Another occasion when this sentiment is expressed is when someone is laid off from work or loses their health insurance or goes through some other unforeseen difficulty.  Our first thought is that we should get what we deserve, and since we are fairly good people on the whole, we should receive good things.

Unfortunately, no one is ever as good as they think.  I can think I deserve better because I only compare myself to criminals, prostitutes, drug addicts or other such, "real sinners."  In this way, I can measure up to my own standards and turn out feeling pretty good about myself.  But when I place myself side-by-side with Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, I cannot stand.  I fall way short, as every human does. (Romans 3:23)

Because of this shortfall, I deserve nothing good.  In fact, God says that what my sin really earns is death.  (Romans 6:23)  He says that I can't earn life no matter how hard I try to be good.  I'll never meet His High standard of perfection.  

The heart of God, however, is revealed by David as he praised the Lord, saying, "he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103:10)  If I got what I deserved, I wouldn't be standing here today.  Instead, God gives me life.  

Since God does not give me what I deserve, why do I find it so necessary to make sure others "get what's coming to them?"  My need to put people in their place runs contrary to the heart of God.  He is all about extending mercy, giving second chances, and believing the best of His people.  As His daughter, there should be some kind of family resemblance.  

When a cashier or coworker is harsh with me, instead of succumbing to the temptation to chastise their attitude, I could give them a smile and a kind word of encouragement.  On the days when a driver cuts me off when I'm late for an appointment, instead of ranting and raving about their horrible driving skills and inconsiderate behavior, I could send up a prayer for them.  For the times when I'm faced once again with a door-to-door cult-peddler, instead of trying to show them where they're wrong I could try to get to know them and offer to take a moment to pray with them.

God doesn't give me what I really earn, and as His daughter I can also extend mercy to those around me, even though they don't deserve it.

Compassion

Her eyes were cold and she refused to take the flyer I offered to her.  The woman muttered, "I don't live around here." and walked purposefully past me, intentionally keeping her hands at her sides as I continued to hold out the paper bearing the image of a beautiful, innocent 15-year-old girl.  Gabbiee Swainson had been missing for seven weeks, abducted cruelly from her bed while she slept.  My daughters and I were spending some time canvassing local areas to get the word out about her disappearance, making sure people didn't forget Gabbiee.

Much to my surprise, a few people reacted as this woman did; with complete disregard for the plight of this girl.  Jesus said the sign that He would soon be coming would be that the hearts of many would grow cold, but to see it in such a palpable way unnerved me. (Matthew 24:12)

Unlike the rest of humanity, Jesus was known for His compassion.  When He met someone who was hurting, like the Samaritan woman at the well, He interacted with her in a loving and kind way.  He didn't sidestep the truth, but His love always won out.  (John 4:1-26)  He offered what He knew she needed: living, healing water.

In the same way, He always takes me back no matter what I've done.  When I vow to follow Him it doesn't mean I'll be perfect from then on.  No, I still deal with sin and need a continual flow of His grace in my life to help me live for Him.  Once a sinner, always a sinner.  My need for Jesus only grows over time as He makes me more and more aware of my shortcomings.  But His compassion shines through when He shows that He still considers me to be His daughter.  He doesn't disown me when I cross a certain line, fall one too many times, or fail to obey as He's said.  Instead, He takes me back.

My prayer can be, as Bob Pierce said, to "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."  As I see the suffering all around me, some blatant but most hidden, I can act as Jesus did, with a heart to point the hurting back to their Creator.  Only He can heal a broken heart, repair a deep-seated wound or mend a tumultuous relationship.  A heart led by compassion will see with the eyes of God instead of the irritable, impatient and cold eyes of man. 

Leighton Ford, an evangelist who has worked closely with Billy Graham, is known to have said, "God loves us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way."  It is important to give God a chance to act, and to not think that I need to do his work for Him.  He does a much better job at pointing out sin in our lives.  For this reason, my job is to kindly and considerately guide a brother or sister back to our Father so He can do His purifying work.  

The compassion of God is best demonstrated in His love for me and His willingness to sacrifice His Son in order to deliver me from eternal suffering.

Relationship

Most people who have a family want to enjoy their company as much as possible.  This is not more evident than in the life of my mother who lives far way from her children and grandchildren.  It takes effort and resources to get everyone together for a holiday or special event.  My mother's heart, however, is always focused on being together.

God, too, is all about relationship.  He wants His family close and desires my company above all other things.  My obedience to His calling and teachings demonstrates my love for Him because it shows I trust Him enough to do as He says. (John 14:23)  The time I spend with Him also shows that He is a priority and that His love for me is reciprocal.  I can only love because He first loved me.  (1 John 4:19)

For this reason, people should be more important to me than their behavior.  The well-being of my relationships should supersede my desire to be right.  It could be my highest priority to live at peace with everyone.  (Romans 12:18)

God has given me enough grace to bear with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2-3)  It takes a heart for relationships, however, to cut others a break, drop high expectations and let them walk their own walk.  As I pray for those around me, God will give me the eyes to see what's important to Him and how He is at work all around me.

My relationship with God is what is important to Him, and I can adopt this same outlook as well.

My God is a God of mercy, compassion and relationship.  Many times, however, I do not follow suit.  Instead, I tend to be ruthless, cold and all about me.  As I get closer to God and get to know Him, though, He begins to reveal His hallmark traits in my own life.  In this way, my Father will be glorified as I trust Him more and more each passing day and as He cultivates in me a heart like His own.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can drop my own point of view and ask God for His.

How do I tend to cut people off when they don't live up to my standards?

When is it hard for me to show compassion to those who are suffering?