DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for this new day. I praise and worship you. Thank you for all the blessings that you have given me and showing me compassion.  Thank you for your amazing love and helping me to live for Jesus, my saviour. Please speak to me today and help me to give you the worship you are worthy off.  And as I come before your throne of grace and mercy. I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, I ask you to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.             

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: 2 Corinthians 1:3 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

Worship Song Sung or Said: Everyone Needs Compassion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taluSSa9vYo

Everyone needs compassion,

A love that's never failing,

Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour,

The hope of nations.

Saviour, he can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
Forever, Author of Salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again,

I give my life to follow everything that I believe in,

Now I surrender

Saviour, he can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
Forever, Author of Salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave

Saviour, he can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
Forever, Author of Salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen king Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen king Jesus

Saviour, he can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
Forever, Author of Salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave

Saviour, he can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
Forever, Author of Salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King

Gods Word for Today: Colossians 3:12-14

"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.” Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Devotional/Study:                                                                                                       

As we reflect on the compassion of Jesus it raises a question for you and me how compassionate are we. I must admit when I look my own life, I realise I do not have enough of the Christ-like compassion for people that I should have. I want have Gods compassion that will move me from just feelings of sympathy do what is right and helpful. 

Brothers and sisters there are many verses in God’s word calling us to be compassionate. We are to show compassion to people who do not know Jesus but also to our brothers and sisters. Paul tells in Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Paul also said in Colossians 3:12-14 "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.” Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Paul reminds as Gods chosen and holy our life must be clothed with these wonderful virtues. However, these virtues are not something we can manufacture. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to live the way God wants us to live. 

When Peter wrote to Christians who were going through all kinds of difficulties, including persecution, he said to them in 1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 

Brothers and sisters, Just as Jesus shows compassion towards us, we need to be compassionate to those who suffering or going through a hard time or even struggling from various sins. Jesus’ compassion reaches out when we are in that place of needing his mercy and forgiveness. I think sometimes we can feel too unworthy or even ashamed to come to Christ, especially if we have sinned again and again. 

let us never forget our saviour our great high priest understands us, more than we understand ourselves. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. We read in Hebrews 4:14-15 "14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” 

Because of who he is, we can go to him and seek his mercy, knowing this truth he will put his arms around us and remind us of his scarred hands of love. As we allow this to sink into the depth of hearts, it gives us assurance we can come to God in humility and confidence that he will help us. "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

What is happening in your life at this time, how are you feeling, where do you feel Jesus is at this time in your life? In our journey with God, all of us go through difficult times, it could be a relationship that has gone bad or someone has hurt you deeply. 

Maybe you are finding it really hard to live the Christian life and you are just struggling emotionally with all that is happening in your life. I just want share with you from my heart that in the mist of what you are going through, you have the greatest friend anyone can have, He knows how you feel, your pain, your sadness, sorrow and disappointments. 

That friend is the one who gave up his life for you, the lord Jesus, and today he is saying to you come to him and he will give you rest.  We are not alone, never alone, because we have the Holy spirt living within us, Although Jesus is in heaven, he still with us, he is not distant or unaware of us. When we understand who Jesus is, we discover that because he endured sufferings, he is deeply moved by our hardships and therefore able to sympathise and his sympathy and compassion causes him to comfort and bring peace into our hearts. 

Pause for prayer: Jesus wants to sit with you and embrace you and experience his amazing love and compassion, he wants in his gentleness to touch you and bring healing and wholeness in your inner being? Sometimes we don’t spend enough time wating upon the Lord. Can I ask you now, just spend some waiting on the lord, and give him time to touch you and experience his wonderful presence and let him embrace you. Always remember what ever Jesus did he did with a compassionate heart.

There is a really beautiful song I love. It’s called waiting here for you. I love these verses: You are everything, you’ve promised, your faithfulness is true and we're desperate for your presence, all we need is You, waiting here for You With our hands lifted high in praise, and it's You we adore Singing Alleluia. 

If you want to listen to this lovely song here is the link as you wait upon the lord. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy9jRA3K2SI (with lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3OEGnH5x8g (this version has no lyrics) recommended

Personal Prayers: