God's Compassion

Day 3, Anchors of Truth

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 14:8 (ESV)

              We aren’t always good humans. Sometimes our selfishness and flesh get the best of us. During these times, we can still look like we have the world by the tail, but hidden deep inside is a secret. It’s a darkness; a sinful activity that grows the more we keep it hidden. And eventually it consumes everything that was once considered good. Unless God steps in. I’m so glad God stepped into my life.

              As a child of the eighties and nineties, technology was growing and maturing as I was. I had cable television in late elementary school, created my first email address in middle school, joined Myspace in high school, and bought my first cell phone in college. As technology advanced, so did the opportunity to watch sexually explicit programming.

Having grown up in a Christian home, I tried hard to follow the rules of God and my parents, but deep down there was a rebellion growing that won more and more. I discovered how to view sexually explicit material without being caught and saw it as a way to safely rebel. No one had to know.

Fast forward. This safe rebellion quickly became a full-on addiction and two people developed inside of me—the one who desired to play the part of a good girl and the person who regularly indulged in sinful behavior and actions. I excused it away instead of dealing with it and the sin only grew bigger.

But God. He sent a friend to confront me. God knew it was the only way to get my attention. Sin thrives in secret, but once it’s brought into the light, God can begin to expose the lies. He didn’t leave me to my own sinful devices; he gave me a choice. I could remain in my sin, which I despised, or trust him enough to confess my sins, repent, and surrender everything to him.

And he met me in that moment. Not with judgment. Or reprimand. With mercy. Grace. And compassion. There’s nothing I did to deserve it. If anything, I felt like I had gone too far for his forgiveness and love. But there is no sin that could separate us from his love. Psalm 103:12 (ESV) says, As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

We all have times in life where we lose sight of who God actually designed us to be. Times when we give into our flesh and live for ourselves with no regard for God. But he doesn’t leave us there, he always provides a way out; if we will make the choice to take it. I’m so thankful for God’s compassion.

Compassionate is who God is. Just as he is good and faithful, he is also compassionate. Do you know God as a compassionate God?

Do the Heart Work

1.      How do we show compassion to others?

2.      How has God shown compassion to you?

3.      Are you willing to receive his compassion? Why or why not?

Digging Deeper

              Read Psalm 103 (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.  

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

              Describe God based on this section of scripture. What are the characteristics that rise to the top?

If You Get Spare Time

              Think about the compassion God has shown you over the years. Write him a letter thanking him for his great compassion and ask him to teach you how to pass it along in your classroom.