Compassion hurts. Hurting with those that hurt. Well, it hurts. As God intended I suppose. This week was especially hard. Each day with a new hurt. Thursday thinking about the 143 million children with no home, no family, no one to know them and love them. Friday discussing abortion and thinking about the 53 million babies killed in the place that should be the safest for them. Saturday reading about the 10 year old boys who were raped at Penn State. My heart breaks. Then reading about 15 year old Jonathan in Ecuador, abandoned by his parents in the jungle. His dad brings him food once in a while when Jonathan is at church. My heart breaks. I feel raw, ready to cry at the drop of a hat because of all the crying I've done in the last few days. Compassion hurts, and I am left to cry out for the Lord to intervene. Come Lord Jesus!I long for His appearing, for Jesus' return. Desperately. When He comes on His white horse with a sword, He will destroy evil. End it. He will bring Justice, Truth, Righteousness. Punish evil. Jesus coming with a sword is my Hope, my comfort. I've never realized how much comfort there is in His vengeance. I think Asaph and I will be friends in heaven. He also finds comfort in God's wrath poured out on evil. "Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD--that you alone are the Most High over all the earth" Psalm 83:13-18It seems he has the same desire for justice as I do, which I believe is birthed out of compassion. I hurt deeply for these oppressed therefore I long deeply for justice. Could it be that to the degree we have compassion, that is the degree we long for His appearing? So all the evil and the pain cries out, Come Lord Jesus!But that drives to share the gospel with the people groups who have never heard. If I really want the horrific evil to end, that should drive me to hurry it along since Jesus promises He will come after all people groups have heard. So even here, in my rawness, compassion that hurts, I see that it's not about me. That brokenness over sin leads to telling people about His great mercy and grace for those who repent. Check out the rest of the Not About Me November SeriesAbout LauraLaura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 and serve with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, A Devotional Journey through Judges, and Discover God's Calling for Your Life. Most recently her resource for Bible studies, The Connect Cards was released by Cru Press. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site.
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