Category: Compassion

When Interruptions Become Opportunities

Before the time of streaming entertainment on demand, I remember watching good old-fashioned network TV as a child. My family would crowd onto the couch together on specific nights to enjoy a few shows. Once in a while the broadcast would cut to a somber news anchor announcing: “We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special report.” The information often detailed a major event like a natural disaster, an emergency situation, or the death of someone important. After delivering the news, the anchor would say, “And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.” 

As I’ve thought about serving in various ministries over the past few years, I’ve been pondering times when there have been interruptions to my “regularly scheduled programming.” I’m not proud to admit it, but for a long time, I viewed these interruptions as irritants that were getting in the way of “real” ministry. They felt like distractions hindering me from accomplishing the tasks needed to put on programs. 

At some point, the Lord helped me to recognize that those interruptions were actually part of His plan. They were opportunities to walk alongside others and help them grow as followers of Jesus. At the same time, they provided experiences that softened some of my sharp edges and helped me to have more compassion and empathy. I started to see that prioritizing people over programs actually led to healthier relationships and meaningful spiritual growth. Interruptions were opportunities to mentor people and care for them. They were chances to guide them toward wisdom found in God’s Word and to recognize its relevance in their situations. Instead of rushing past interruptions, I began realizing the value of pausing to engage them. Here are a few ways God has used them with me:

-Circling Back: Sometimes in a meeting or small group issues arise that need one-on-one attention. When I’ve sensed that someone seems to be struggling, I’ve tried to follow up and connect outside our group or team meetings. Sometimes people just need to feel seen and heard. At other times they need encouragement, affirmation, or clarification. Heeding the Holy Spirit’s prompting and making time to check in with someone separately opens the door for God to work in and through us.

-Discipling through Conflict: Anytime we work or serve with people, conflicts arise at some point. Pretending they don’t exist usually just creates awkward interactions that lack authenticity. Addressing conflict through healthy communication opens opportunities for everyone to unpack misunderstandings and identify false assumptions. Perhaps someone needs to learn an applicable truth in Scripture. Maybe there’s an opportunity for spiritual refining or character development. Perhaps there’s a chance for someone to be convicted by sin or to recognize a blind spot. If we lean into awkward situations and seek better understanding, we’re creating opportunities to help ourselves and others mature spiritually and personally.

-Giving Permission to Pause: There are times when someone’s personal struggles may interrupt ministry programming. When a key member of a team I led lost her husband, we rallied around her to provide support. We were in the throes of launching into a new year and she didn’t want to leave us hanging, but we knew the best way to love her was to give her time away from serving. When personal hardship strikes a team member, the first priority needs to be showing love and compassion before worrying about how program logistics will be impacted. The interruption provides a beautiful opportunity to love someone when they’re hurting by giving them the time they need to heal.

There’s a story in Matthew’s gospel when an interruption leads to a powerful moment of ministry. Jesus travels by boat with His disciples to a solitary place. They are grieving the death of John the Baptist and seeking respite. However, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Concerned about practical matters, the disciples approach Jesus as evening draws near and say, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Instead of agreeing with their suggestion, Jesus replies, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matt 14:14,15b,16, NIV)

Maybe you remember what happens next: Jesus takes five small loaves of bread and two fish, gives thanks to God and then feeds five thousand men, plus women and children. Not only does everyone eat their fill, but the disciples collect twelve baskets filled with leftovers.

Consider how differently Jesus and His disciples view interruptions. He seems to be the master of pivoting and adapting to new situations. Rather than being annoyed by the crowds greeting His boat, Jesus has compassion on them. Instead of dismissing them and sticking with His original plan, He ministers to them. When the disciples urge Him to send people away to find food, Jesus uses it as an opportunity to grow their trust in Him as the ultimate Provider. The interruptions become moments of ministry and revelation.

When we slow down and engage them, interruptions can become significant catalysts for ministering to others. What’s your usual response when they occur in your “regularly scheduled program”? Whether it’s in ministry, at home, at work, or somewhere else, there’s always an opportunity to grow in how you handle them. If you’re prone to anger, annoyance, impatience, or irritability when interruptions occur, consider praying and inviting the Lord to show how you can honor Him more in your response. You’ll discover joy on the journey and will bless others in the process.

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No Partiality

Continuing to break new ground in the early church, the Holy Spirit reveals the next stage of God’s unfolding plan in Acts 10.  This chapter pivots from Saul back to Peter, who has an unusual meeting with a Roman Centurion named Cornelius that heralds a significant shift in the early Church. When the Jewish apostle and the God-fearing Gentile meet face to face, there’s no doubt it’s been divinely ordained. Recognizing God’s hand at work, Peter explains what the Lord has shown him: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34b-35, NIV)

Luke’s narrative continues, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” (Acts 10:44-46, NIV)

“With one simple act, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter shows that in the kingdom of God there is no favoritism—the gospel is for everyone.”1 While we may see this story as a significant turning point in our Church history, it also has relevant application for believers today. Jesus’ brother James writes: “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” (James 2:8-9, NIV)

The call to love our neighbors as ourselves appears nine times in Scripture. However, there are moments when we opt out of this command and rationalize our choice to do so. While we may not like admitting it, none of us is without blind spots and unconscious biases. Rather than denying this, we can honor the Lord by asking Him to show us attitudes that dishonor Him and discount others. 

If we’re honest, there are certain people we avoid because of behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles that we dislike, disagree with, or find distasteful. Beyond obvious differences in race, socioeconomic status, or education, we also make more subtle judgements about others.

It’s natural for people to be drawn to those who are similar and to keep their distance from individuals who cause them to feel awkward, threatened, or uncomfortable. But when partiality shows up in those who follow Jesus, we must admit it and invite the Spirit’s guidance on making healthy changes. While it differs from person to person, here are a few examples that come to mind:

-People who hold different political views. That person who proudly supports a candidate, party, or issue that makes your blood boil is still worthy of God’s love. Jesus’ original twelve disciples included two who were polar opposites politically: “Jesus chose Simon the Zealot, a man who likely desired to forcibly remove the Roman government, and He also chose Matthew, a tax collector working for the Roman government. Both Simon and Matthew, though natural enemies, were part of the Twelve.”2 Two men with opposite political stances put aside their differences through a shared love of Jesus. Like them, we must keep our strong opinions in check and love people regardless of their political affiliations.

-People contending with issues that you don’t understand or haven’t experienced. Maybe it’s the parent of a child with a severe disability. Perhaps it’s a parent with a child struggling with sexual identity or gender dysphoria. Maybe it’s someone with an addiction or mental illness. Often people who are anxious, depressed, or in distress don’t have the energy for good social skills. Sometimes we find it easier to avoid those who have struggles that make us uncomfortable rather than listening, showing kindness, and seeking understanding. 

-People who seem shallow or disinterested in spiritual life. Perhaps there’s someone in your circle of acquaintances who prioritizes fun and socializing above all else. Maybe it’s a person who is always the life of the party or seems to lack depth of character. They hide their hurts and needs behind a broad smile, a boisterous laugh, and deflecting humor. When we judge and dismiss them, we’re keeping the Lord from using us to show them His love. 

-People who have made choices we don’t understand. Maybe it’s someone who leaves a spouse. Rather than reaching out to offer support, we hold back with subtle disapproval. Without knowing the story, we’ve already decided they are doing wrong. Instead of showing compassion or seeking understanding, our avoidance compounds feelings of loneliness or rejection they’re already experiencing; we alienate them from the supportive community of faith they need most.

When we’re quick to judge and draw conclusions based on what we see on the outside of another person, we’re displaying partiality. Maybe, like me, you fear that showing support communicates approval of sins. Perhaps you think withholding affection and warmth equates with maintaining high moral standards. Doing this means missing the opportunity to show God’s love when a person is struggling and feeling alone.

Although not everything described above equates with sin, most of us find certain sins more acceptable than others. But it’s important to remember that God sees all sin as worthy of death (Romans 6:23). We magnify other’s shortcomings and forget that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV). This makes us prideful, condescending, and judgmental, overlooking Scripture’s assertion that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13b, NIV) We must humbly remember “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NIV) So, we’d be wise to take off the judge’s robes and leave that job to the Lord (Luke 6:37). God’s kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4) so, our passion should be to share His kindness without partiality. He doesn’t show favoritism, so let’s pray for eyes to see those we may be discounting that the Lord is calling us to love.

  • 1. Acts Part One: The Gospel Goes Out, The Village Church, 2019, 92.
  • 2. https://www.gotquestions.org/Zealots-Bible.html

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Praying Like Moses

Throughout their travels in the desert, the Israelites continually shift back and forth between praising God and whining about hardships. When they reach the base of Mt. Sinai, Moses climbs to the top of the mountain to meet with God. There, the Lord speaks to Moses and gives him laws for the people to follow.  Moses spends forty days on the mountain talking with God and during the time he’s gone, the people become restless. Under the leadership of Aaron, they follow the example of the Egyptians by making a golden statue of a calf and worshipping it. (They may have copied this practice from the Egyptians’ worship of a bull-god named Apis).1

Moses returns from Mt. Sinai after spending forty days in the presence of the LORD to find the Israelites running wild. They’ve already forgotten the miracles of the Red Sea and the manna. Instead, they’re worshiping a golden calf and spinning out of control in pagan revelry. Enraged, Moses throws down the two stone tablets on which God carved the Ten Commandments. During the mayhem that follows, Moses calls together the people who remain faithful to the LORD. All the members of the tribe of Levi respond and together with Moses, they kill 3000 people who are unfaithful to God.  At this point, Moses returns to the Lord on the mountain to make atonement for the sins of the rest of the people.

During his time on the mountain, Moses has an inspiring conversation with God. He makes requests of the Lord that show how much he’s grown in trust since their first encounter at the burning bush. Moses reveals deep faith and gives us a pattern we can follow in our own prayer lives. 

Teach Me Your Ways: Moses says to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.’” (Exodus 33:12b-13, NIV) Have you ever thought about making a request to God like this? Consider asking the Lord to teach you His ways by:

  • asking Him to increase your desire and ability to study His Word
  • asking God to show you how to incorporate His ways into your daily life
  • asking for courage or strength to implement any changes you sense He’s calling you to make so you can find favor with Him

Don’t Send Us Without You: During their conversation the Lord also tells Moses He will send an angel with the Israelites instead of going with them to the promised land. “Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? ’” (Exodus 33:15-16a, NIV) Moses says he will not move forward without God’s presence. Is there an area in your life where you would be wise not to move forward without the Lord? For example: 

  • making a big decision that will impact you or your family significantly such as a job change, buying or remodeling a home, moving, choosing a college, or getting married.   
  • embarking on a ministry assignment such as leading, speaking, teaching, serving, giving, or going on a mission trip. 
  • having a hard conversation with someone about an important topic

Distinguish Me from All Other People: Moses asks the Lord: “What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:16b, NIV) As believers, we’re called to be set apart. We’re in the world but not of the world. Try asking God to distinguish you from others by:

  • using you as a light among you family, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and strangers
  • praying you will stand out to the world in positive ways and will draw others to the Lord
  • giving you confidence to swim against the current of secular culture

Show Me Your Glory: Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18, NIV) Consider asking God to show you His glory by:

  • inviting Him to reveal Himself to you so that you can know and understand Him more deeply
  • asking for spiritual understanding to see beyond immediate circumstances that are confusing, frustrating, or discouraging
  • helping you to see His glory through the things He’s created or given you (nature, good health, community, relationships, material resources, etc.)

The Lord grants Moses’ requests and then describes His character. He reveals Himself as loving, faithful, powerful and just: “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’” (Exodus 34:6-7, NIV)

We have the gift of unrestricted access to our powerful and gracious God. Let’s follow Moses’ example and make the most of this incredible privilege.

Third Day’s song “Show Me Your Glory” sets Moses’ request of the Lord to music. Click here to listen and make it your prayer today.

Want to learn more about the Lord’s response to Moses in Exodus 34? Consider reading God Has a Name by John Mark Comer. Click here for more information.

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 9.

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1. NIV Study Bible notes, Zondervan 2008 update, p. 135.

Wearing God’s Glory

Opening the door, the student aide walked in with a message from the school office. Furrowing her brow, she scanned the classroom before turning to me and asking, “Where’s the teacher?” Grimacing and willing my face not to turn red, I snatched the note from her hand and replied, “I’m the teacher, I’ll take care of that, thanks.” 

I was a few weeks into my first year teaching and trying desperately to command the respect of my high school pupils. At twenty-three years old, it had only been five years since I’d graduated from their ranks. After a few embarrassing run-ins like this one, I was determined to differentiate myself from the teens on campus. So, I headed to the mall to buy some clothes that were more tailored and less youthful. Until the students got to know me, I knew what I wore needed to set me apart from them. 

Although it happened years ago, I remembered this season in my life as I read the instructions about the clothing for the priests serving in the Tabernacle. What they wore showed they were different; they’d been set apart by God to perform sacred duties: “For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.” (Exodus 28:40-41, ESV) Covered with precious gemstones, the ornate priestly garb displayed the Lord’s glory, beauty, dignity, and honor (“glory and beauty” are used in the ESV, “dignity and honor” are used in the NIV).   

Today we might be tempted to view this as interesting but irrelevant information. Because of Jesus, we no longer need priests to make blood sacrifices on our behalf. However, the New Testament clarifies that every follower of Jesus now serves in this role: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV) 

We too, are a royal priesthood called to live set apart from the world around us. Instead of sacrificing animals, our charge is to tell people Christ made the sacrifice for them. We get to help others move from the darkness of sin and death to the light of God’s love and mercy.

While we’re no longer required to wear elaborate clothing like the priests serving in the Tabernacle, Scripture still emphasizes the importance of adorning ourselves with glory, beauty, dignity and honor: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14, NIV) 

Through the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ display character qualities that set them apart from the world. Let’s consider each piece of “clothing” and how wearing it honors the Lord and reveals Him to others.

Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”1 Demonstrating compassion gives us an opportunity to show the Lord’s love and concern for people in difficult and vulnerable situations. If you’re not naturally compassionate, consider asking the Holy Spirit to increase it in you. Then, invite Him to lead you to people who would be blessed by receiving it.

Kindness is being benevolent, considerate, and helpful to others. Kind people look outward beyond their own needs and desires to notice others. Through kind words and actions, we reveal the fruit of the Spirit and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Try praying for the Lord to fill you with His kindness, then be on the lookout for someone who needs it today.

Humility is “not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”2 C.S. Lewis said a truly humble person “will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”3 Pride and self-absorption stand in opposition to humility. It may be challenging, but consider asking the Lord to humble you and to help you to think of yourself less frequently.

Gentleness is the quality of being free from harshness, sternness, or violence. It is being docile, soft, and delicate.4 Scripture explains, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV). Gentleness diffuses tension and softens defensiveness. Do others feel soothed by your words or stirred up by them? Ask the Lord to give you more of this fruit of the Spirit if it’s lacking in your character.

Patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”4 This vital fruit of the Spirit is in short supply in our world today, so demonstrating it to others makes believers stand out from the crowd. If patience is a struggle for you, ask the Spirit to pour it out on your life to bless you and those in your presence.

Forgiveness is releasing resentment for wrongs and offenses committed against you. It means letting go of grudges and relinquishing your hurt to the Lord. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV) The world tells us to stoke the fires of resentment and to hold fast to grudges. However, remembering God’s forgiveness should compel us to offer grace and forgiveness to those who sin against us.

Clothing ourselves with the characteristics of Christ reveals God’s presence in the world. Like the priests of ancient Israel, we bring the Lord’s glory and beauty to those around us. Dan Bremnes’ song “Fingerprints” will inspire you to remember the important part you play in shining God’s light into darkness. Click here to listen.

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 8.

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1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/compassion

2. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan, 2002.

3. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Geoffrey Bles, 1952.

4 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentle

5. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=definition+of+patience&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The GOAT Part 2b “Light”

Descending down the paved path, our kids skipped beside us, giddy with anticipation.   We were on vacation with two other families and the fourteen of us had decided to explore a cave we’d seen advertised on a roadside sign. As we neared the entrance, a park ranger stationed at a booth nearby called out to us, “Do you folks have some flashlights? The cave is a mile long and it gets mighty dark and cold in there.”

We held up a few puny flashlights we’d planned to share among the group. He smiled in a way that let us know how pathetic we were. “It’s up to you, but I’d suggest renting a few lanterns. You’re going to want to keep close tabs on those little ones.” He gestured to the gaggle of kids surrounding us. Pooling together all the cash we had, we rented three lanterns and walked toward the adventure awaiting us at the mouth of the cave.

Within minutes, our previously boisterous kids sidled close to the adults carrying the lanterns. We left the last rays of sunlight and moved into the depths of the darkness. Between the 42-degree air and the utter blackness all around us, no one wanted to stray far from the group or the light. Without the lanterns to guide our way, it would have been a frightening (and probably very short) trek into the cave.

Although this adventure happened many years ago, I remembered it vividly as I listened to the sermon at CPC Danville on Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

Put simply, Jesus calls us to be lights that lead people towards Him in a world of spiritual darkness. Jesus says that our lights shine when we do good deeds, which in turn bring glory to God. While non-believers may not always affirm or recognize the light Christians bring into the world, they would definitely notice if it were absent.

It is important to keep in mind that our actions often speak more loudly than our words. We can’t always recall what others have said to us, but few of us forget how another person made us feel. Consistency of character shows over the long haul. The impression we leave on others opens or closes doors for future opportunities to share our faith.

It can take people a lot longer to recognize they are in spiritual darkness than physical darkness. Our world is full of distractions that comfort or anesthetize individuals into believing they don’t need God. Often it’s not until someone experiences deep pain or hardship that they begin to do some soul searching and seek spiritual wisdom. If you’ve been there for them all along, they may finally realize the value of the lifeline you’re offering through Jesus.

So how can you be a light today?

  1. Be intentional about connecting with Jesus and keeping Him in the forefront of your mind throughout the day. Apply His teaching from John 15:4-5: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
  2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
  3. Invite the Lord to show you where you can shine the light of His love and grace. Sometimes it may involve words, other times it will only be through your actions. Maybe it’s as simple as smiling at someone or holding a door open for them. Perhaps it’s offering a word of encouragement or affirmation. Maybe it’s meeting a need, offering a listening ear, or speaking a kind word. Each interaction we have with others provides a chance to make their world a little better and to shine our lights a little brighter.

Let’s consider my story about the cave in the context of our spiritual lives: Imagine that upon accepting Christ, each new believer receives a lantern to carry out into the world where spiritual darkness prevails. When we love people with our actions it creates opportunities to share the truth of God’s Word. We are like the people in the cave holding the lantern. Those fumbling in the dark are drawn to the light and find comfort in its presence. Our world is struggling in spiritual darkness; we have the privilege of holding the lantern and leading them into the light every day, one step at a time.

Let Kari Jobe’s “We Are” inspire you to shine the light of Jesus today:

*Updated from my “Shining God’s Light in the Darkness” 2015 posts.

The Harvest is Plentiful

“God wants us to live with…watchfulness, to look for the lost people around us.” (20/20, p. 65 ) I love the idea of becoming more attuned to people I encounter. Praying for the ability to see below the surface so I can point them toward God inspires me. But before any of us can truly see others the way Jesus does, we need to start by recognizing our own brokenness. This begins by inviting the Lord into our struggles and letting Him expose and cleanse our sins. Doing this develops humility and compassion for others. Rather than judging or condemning, we’re able to share the forgiveness, healing, hope, and love found in Christ.

John 4 includes the story of a woman Jesus met that illustrates this process:

“Now [Jesus] had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’

The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water…everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.‘

The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.‘

He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.‘

I have no husband,’ she replied.

Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’ 

The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.‘

Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he.’” 

Let’s stop here to notice that Jesus didn’t hold back with the woman. He knew her sins but rather than condemning her, He identified Himself as the Messiah and offered her new life and lasting fulfillment through Him. And based on her response, it seems she felt drawn to the truth and love He offered:

“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ They came out of the town and made their way toward him…They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.’” 

Take note of the woman’s reaction. The conversation she had with Jesus compelled her to share the good news with others. She’d known Him only a few minutes but was eager to introduce Him to the people of her town. She didn’t convince them to listen with her articulate arguments or deep spiritual knowledge but simply by telling her story and inviting them to meet Jesus for themselves.

Sometimes I wonder if we’ve made sharing the gospel more complicated than it needs to be. Unlike this woman, we feel we must have certain verses memorized or explanations and rebuttals ready, as if we were headed into a high school debate tournament. Or, we worry so much about offending people or being rejected that we don’t even open our mouths to share how Jesus has given us true life and fulfillment.

Let’s look at the story in John 4 one more time to see how Jesus challenged His disciples regarding the woman. They had only seen her as a Samaritan sinner, but He recognized her as a genuine seeker of truth:

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus expands further on this idea: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Mark 9:36-38, NIV)

Today the harvest is ripe, just as it was when Jesus spoke these words. People are lonely, hurting, and struggling–harassed and helpless with no clear sense of direction. They are longing to hear truth and to find hope. And, like the woman at the well, our honesty can open doors to share Jesus. When we’re authentic and admit our struggles, fears, and failures, we also get to share how Jesus meets us in our brokenness. We can give others a chance to find the same hope and firm foundation that carry us through even the darkest times.

Will you pray and ask God to lead you to people who are ready to hear your story and learn about the ultimate hope Jesus offers? Let Matthew West’s song “Truth Be Told” inspire you to be authentic so you can point them to Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XsZi9QT6a8

Christine Caine, 20/20: Seen. Chosen. Sent. Lifeway Press, 2019.

*Note: Selected verses were included from John 4, this is not the passage in its entirety.

Seeing with New Eyes

Handing me an envelope at the Kindergarten gate, my son scampered off to join his friends on the playground. The letter inside detailed the results of the annual vision screening conducted every fall. To my dismay, it recommended making an appointment for him to see an optometrist. Within a few weeks, he’d been fitted for glasses to correct surprisingly poor vision for someone so young. 

Our six-year-old adapted quickly and seemed unfazed by the addition of wire rimmed specs to his cute little face. The only glitch was on the soccer field, where metal frames were a safety hazard. Attempting to find a solution, my husband and I invested in an expensive set of bulky prescription sports goggles. However, our son ended up wearing them exactly one time. With all of the running and sweating he did during games, they slid around on his face and slowed him down. So, for the next six years he played soccer without glasses, preferring the challenge of poor vision to the annoyance of the goggles.

By middle school, our boy was mature enough to handle the responsibility of contact lenses and ready for the greater freedom they promised. I’ll never forget the first soccer game he played wearing them. His confidence and intensity on the field had skyrocketed. With his vision corrected, he dominated his opponents and ended up scoring two goals in that game. His coach marveled at how dramatically his play had improved as he dribbled, passed, and shot the ball. (And yes, we did feel a little guilty.)

No doubt, our physical vision impacts the way we interact with the world around us. The same is true of our emotional and spiritual vision. The lens through which we view ourselves affects everything about us: Our self-esteem, attitudes, outlooks, and relationships. Bible teacher Christine Caine explains, “When we are confident in knowing we are fully seen and fully known by God, we can see others and help them feel fully seen and fully known. When we aren’t confident in knowing He sees us, we can be tempted to behave in a way that begs attention—whether negative or positive—hoping someone else will notice us.”  I’m excited to dive into Caine’s new Bible study: 20/20: Seen. Chosen. Sent. Exploring how Jesus sees us and learning to look at others as He does will be both challenging and inspiring. 

I remember when I began understanding the impact of seeing myself as God does. It was years ago, when I was struggling with underlying depression and insecurity that had been magnified by an unhealthy relationship. A wise friend admonished me to remember that I was the beloved daughter of the King of Kings. Choosing to believe her words and let them change my outlook took time, intentionality, and even some counseling. Understanding this truth also freed me from expecting others to love and fulfill me in a way that only the Lord truly could. 

To be honest, this is an ongoing process for me–there are still days when I forget to see myself through God’s lenses and let people throw me off-kilter. Caine emphasizes, “How essential it is, then, that we come before Jesus daily and ask Him to keep the eyes of our hearts open so we can see those closest to us in the same way He does. When we feel rejected or taken for granted by our husbands, children, friends, or colleagues, we can easily default to a defensive posture and harden our hearts to shield us from being hurt. But if we allow our hearts to harden, then we will lose compassion and, therefore, lack what is required to see others as Jesus does. If we focus on protecting ourselves, we will miss others.”

If you’re ready to improve your spiritual and emotional vision, please join me through this series of posts on Caine’s book. You’ll find new focus using the Bible as your lens. Let’s start right now with a few Scriptures that remind us how God intends for us to see ourselves and others:

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him…God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 3:1 & 4:9-10, NLT)

As we open ourselves to receive the Lord’s lavish love, we’ll learn to let it overflow from us to bless others:

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:11-12, NLT)

Seeing people through God’s eyes makes it easier to look past what divides us and enables us approach them with humility, grace, and kindness. This happens when we remember:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)

Viewing ourselves as God’s masterpieces spurs us on to do the good things He’s planned for us. Acts of kindness and service aren’t done out of obligation, but as expressions of our love for the Lord. This is all part of His plan. It’s a circular process: God’s love pours into us. We receive it and pass it on to others. As people experience His love demonstrated through us, they discover they, too, are beloved children of the King of Kings.

The song, “God So Loved” by We the Kingdom beautifully communicates God’s tremendous love for us. Enjoy this inspiring music video that captures an array of people and cultures from around the world.

Christine Caine, 20/20: Seen. Chosen. Sent., Lifeway Press, 2020, p. 13 & 26.

The Gift of Empathy

Stepping into line, I clutched my son’s tiny hand and kept my head down as we inched toward his classroom door. The preschool check-in process took a while, but usually created a welcome opportunity to chat with other moms. On that day, however, just walking into the building required excruciating effort. Participating in such a “normal” activity seemed surreal when I felt so raw, exposed, and vulnerable.

Just a few days earlier, I’d sat at my dad’s bedside as he exhaled his final breath. For the two weeks prior to that I’d been consumed with trekking back and forth to see him as he’d received hospice care. I’d been so removed from regular life that it felt overwhelming just dropping off my son at school. 

I assumed most of the moms in line knew I was grieving since I’d received flowers from the class. My sagging shoulders and red-rimmed eyes hinted at my fragile state, yet not one of them acknowledged my loss. I didn’t fault them for it—most of my peers hadn’t yet experienced the death of a parent and didn’t know what to say.

After a few awkward minutes, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. Looking up, a mom I barely knew pulled me in close and said, “I’m so sorry for your loss. My dad died a few years ago– I totally get what you’re going through.” She described the range of emotions she’d experienced, mirroring mine exactly. What a relief to encounter someone who understood my pain.  

In the years since then, I’ve been blessed by other compassionate people who have reached out to empathize with me through different struggles. None of them tried to fix my problems, but they all showed me compassion and understanding. They made me feel seen, heard, and loved. These kind acts beautifully illustrate Paul’s words in the New Testament:

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

Painful experiences are fertile ground for receiving God’s comfort. They also enable us to grow in our compassion for people. When we’re going through hardships, we can find hope knowing God will use them to bless others in the future.

Once you’ve experienced true empathy, you’re able to recognize how it differs from sympathy. Empathizing with others means we identify with their pain and connect with them in it. It’s when we say, “I get it, I know how you feel.” Sympathy, however, is like saying “I feel bad for you.” Instead of being a participant in the pain, a person offering sympathy remains a passive observer feeling pity for the hardships of another. While the intentions are kind, it can make a struggling person feel emotionally isolated. If you’ve ever gone through a hard time, you probably know that receiving a person’s empathy comforts so much more than the clichéd words of sympathy.

Sometimes we encounter people in pain and we have no frame of reference to empathize with them. It’s tempting to hold back and say nothing for fear of getting it wrong. However, there are simple tools we can use to respond in caring and sensitive ways that promote connection and understanding. Here are a few I’ve learned:

-Listen to understand, not to respond. Don’t get distracted thinking about what you’ll say next– you’ll miss what the person is telling you.

-Listen for feelings, not facts. Validate their emotions and don’t judge them as bad or good. Focus on the person, not on the details of their situation.

-Be present and patient. Let the struggling person have room to share the tangle of emotions they’re feeling. Get comfortable sitting in silence too. Remember your presence will communicate your support more than any helpful suggestions you might be tempted to offer. People may forget what you say, but they remember the way you made them feel.

-Avoid sharing stories about yourself. This may seem like empathy, but it’s really turning the attention to yourself. Saying “I’ve been there” or “I feel you” is enough. If they want to know more, they’ll ask.

-Don’t offer advice, quick assurances, or comparisons that minimize what they’re going through (ie: “At least….” Or “It could be worse…”). Don’t offer the “bright side” of the situation they aren’t ready to hear.

-Remember it’s not your job to speak for God or to make conjectures about why He’s letting a hard thing happen. Don’t over-spiritualize, preach, or quote a verse attempting to make them feel better. Instead, offer to pray with and for the person.

-Circle back later and see how they’re doing. Ask if there are any specific ways you can be praying. Sometimes after the initial conversation, we check off the “reach out to my struggling friend” box and move on. Difficult seasons can last a long time and most people appreciate ongoing support (to whatever degree you have the bandwidth to offer it.)

Want to learn more about the difference between sympathy and empathy? Watch this two minute video by Dr. Brené Brown.

Singer/ songwriter Toby Mac gives us an intimate glimpse into the pain of losing his son, Truett, in his song “21 Years.” Let it remind you to look at others with empathy and to invite God to use you to comfort them.

The Dignity and Worth of Women

A female servant conceives a child with her master at the urging of his barren wife. A father offers up his virgin daughters to be used and abused by a lustful crowd of men. Later, the same daughters commit incest with their father in an act of desperation, hoping to secure their value by producing offspring. To preserve his life, a husband remains passive as a foreign king absorbs his wife into the royal harem. These stories of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Lot and his daughters in Genesis 16-20 sound like the makings for a sordid soap opera. They are ugly, disturbing, and just plain icky. Taken out of context, they could easily lead us to believe Scripture debases and devalues women. But upon closer examination, we find they show cultural attitudes towards the roles, value, and identity of women in that era of history. They aren’t examples of how God views women, but about how the culture at the time did. 

To understand the Lord’s heart toward women more clearly, let’s turn to the New Testament. In the pages of the four gospels we find Jesus giving women dignity and worth that exceeded the cultural norms of His time. Here are a few of my favorites that show this clearly.

The Samaritan Woman at the Well: “Now [Jesus] had to go through Samaria.  So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’  (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:5-9, NIV)

This exchange may not seem significant to us, but for a Jewish man like Jesus, speaking to a Samaritan woman would have gone against several societal norms. First, Jewish men did not speak to or associate with Gentile women. Second, Jews considered Samaritans to be detestable and unworthy. Many Jews wouldn’t even set foot in Samaria, opting to take a much longer route to get to Jerusalem to avoid traveling through this region filled with “unclean” people. The woman at the well knew this, which is why she was shocked by Jesus’ request.

As the conversation progresses, they discuss her checkered personal life. The woman realizes Jesus is not just an ordinary man and she says, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus replies: “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:25 & 26, NIV).

This is one of the first instances in Scripture when Jesus acknowledges that He is the long- awaited Messiah. And He chooses to share this important information with a woman of questionable morals from the wrong side of the tracks. Not the typical way women would have been treated at the time.

The “Unclean” Woman: “A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’  Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’…Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’ (Mark 5:24-34, NIV)

Jesus responded with compassion to this woman that was considered ceremonially unclean by the Jews because of her bleeding. She would have been banned from most social contact and anyone she touched would’ve been “unclean” as well. While others probably recoiled from her, Jesus sought her out and affirmed her faith in Him with love and gentleness.

The Woman Who Anointed Jesus: “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’” Matthew 26:6-13, NIV)

Here we see Jesus defend and affirm a woman’s act of worship. He silences her male critics as they attempt to demonstrate moral superiority. Affirming her generous actions, He says she will be remembered any time the gospel is preached.

The Woman Caught in Adultery: “At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’  They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’

‘No one, sir,’ she said.

‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” (John 8:2-11, NIV)

Jesus defends the woman brilliantly and causes her accusers to recognize their hypocrisy. At the same time, He achieves the delicate balance of holding her accountable for her sin while offering her mercy, grace, and forgiveness. 

These are just a few of the many times Jesus shows that He values and esteems women. His actions defied the cultural norms of the time and were a precursor for Paul’s words in Galatians: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29, NIV)

God’s love and promises aren’t limited by the divisions we create between groups because of our sinful nature. In His eyes, all people have worth and dignity, regardless of cultural or societal norms.

Lauren Daigle’s song “How Can It Be” was inspired by Jesus’ interaction with the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Let the wonder of His grace fill you with hope and joy today.

Header image courtesy of rawpixel at www.pixabay.com.

Giving Generously


Driving through the city on a sunny afternoon, I watched from the passenger seat as familiar sites rolled by my window…ornate Victorian houses, clanging cable cars, trendy stores, chic cafés, and tiny gardens sandwiched between tall buildings. A few blocks further down, the picturesque scene transformed as we passed liquor stores, empty lots filled with trash, and raggedy people sleeping in doorways. One group leaned against a graffiti-covered wall smoking cigarettes and drinking from bottles tucked inside paper bags. A few kids skipped past them down the sidewalk, their fresh faces providing a sharp contrast to the bleak surroundings.
 
For most people, scenes like these cause different emotions to bubble to the surface. Some turn their heads, preferring not to engage the conflicting feelings of guilt and compassion that may arise. Others look on wishing they could help, but feel ill- equipped and unsure about how to intervene in a community struggling with such vast problems.
 
Although I’ve felt those things at different times, that day I was hopeful. I thought of the letters my family receives from a little boy and girl in that neighborhood who we’ve been sponsoring for several years through SF City Impact. I pictured the Christian school they attend that brings the light of Jesus to that struggling neighborhood. The people working there have willing hearts, deep faith, and years of experience that enable them to engage the neighborhood’s practical and spiritual needs. And as you might expect, they have limited resources to fill them.
 
On Good Friday, members of my women’s Bible study made the drive into that neighborhood to deliver Easter baskets to each child and staff member at SF City Academy. Gathering with these women to fill the baskets has been one of the many highlights of being part of this group. Delivering them to the children and staff members is both humbling and fulfilling. It’s amazing how God uses simple baskets loaded with trinkets and treats to show love, encouragement, and support to adults and children who are often overlooked. 
 
This year, it seems especially poignant to be doing this as we’re wrapping up a study on the book of Ruth. Like some of the families who will be receiving baskets, Ruth struggled with poverty and found herself as an immigrant on the fringes of society. Because of her rural setting, she gleaned in the fields to get food for herself and Naomi. This was God’s provision for the poor described in the Old Testament (see Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22).
 
In modern times and urban settings, the poor don’t have the option to glean fields, but we’re still instructed to offer support using the same principles. The command to give to the needy is a consistent theme throughout the Old and New Testaments. Jesus taught on the importance of giving many times. One of the most memorable is when He described His eventual return:
 
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40, NIV)
 
When we give to those in need, it’s as if we are giving to Jesus- the kindness we show them is a manifestation of our love for Him. Giving to the needy motivated by love for Jesus also frees us from expecting gratitude in return. Whether it’s acknowledged or not, any act of kindness done for a person in need is the same as doing it for Jesus Himself.
 
Paul also taught about giving:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NIV)
 
Material wealth is fleeting and uncertain. It’s not a good source of ultimate security. We can rest assured that God provides everything for our enjoyment, not just our needs. True life is not bound up in the accumulation of possessions or material wealth but in sharing what we have with others. Our generosity stores up spiritual treasure for us that is of eternal value.
 
James also had much to say about this topic:
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17, NIV)
 
Our generosity must be rooted in humility and empathy. We share out of the abundance God has lavished upon us, knowing all our resources were given to us by Him. Generous giving reveals our genuine faith while honoring God and showing others that He is for them.
 
 There are numerous ways to share what the Lord has given you, whether it is donating your financial resources, offering consistent prayer support, or volunteering your time. Will you commit to praying about where God might be calling you to provide consistent support for people in need? The Lord often prompts us to intervene in situations that break our hearts. Where is He drawing your attention right now?
 
Not sure where to start? Here are a few ministries doing amazing work with people in need who would welcome your involvement through giving, serving, and praying. Click on them to learn more.
 
San Francisco City Impact 
Compassion International
World Vision
International Justice Mission
Samaritan’s Purse

Feel free to suggest other ministries we should consider in the comments below.

Let Matthew West’s song “Do Something” inspire you to action today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I2csO7_pOI