Scripture abounds with statements and demonstrations of God’s compassion. In Psalm 145:8-9, we read, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Paul challenged the Colossian church to show compassion with these words, “… put on a heart of compassion…” [Colossians 3:12]

Throughout the month of February, we will be striving to demonstrate more compassion towards people we encounter daily. I discovered an article written by Kendra Cherry, MSEd. It is titled,  “How to Show More Compassion to Others—and Why You Should.” Here is a partial excerpt from that article.

Compassion involves feeling another person’s pain and wanting to take steps to help relieve their suffering. The word compassion itself derives from Latin and means “to suffer together.”

It is related to other emotions, such as sympathy, and empathy although the concepts have some key differences. Empathy refers more to the general ability to take another person’s perspective and feel the emotions of others. Compassion, on the other hand, is what happens when those feelings of empathy are accompanied by the desire to help.

Compassion and empathy share common elements, but compassion goes a step beyond. Rather than just imagining yourself in their shoes, compassion drives you to take action to help that person. Because you are able to feel those emotions so keenly—almost as if it is happening to you—there is a strong motivation to find a way to change the situation or ease the other person’s pain.

Think of compassion as a revved-up, more active form of empathy. It’s why you might send your friend a “just checking in” text when you know they’ve had a rough day. When you notice your co-worker is extra quiet, compassion is why you offer a quick, “Hey, you seem a little off today. Is everything OK?”

Even when you feel compassion, knowing how to best help or show your support is not always easy. You might feel awkward or uncomfortable or worry about making the situation worse. When emotions feel “heavy” and you aren’t quite sure how to help, there are several different steps you can take to show compassion to others.

Speak with kindness

Apologize when you’ve made a mistake

Listen carefully and without judgment

Be encouraging

Offer to help someone with a task

Be happy for someone else’s success

Accept people for who they are

Forgive people for making mistakes

Be respectful

Express gratitude and appreciation

Be patient

Practicing compassion means observing another person’s circumstances without judgment and considering how one might feel in a similar context. Let’s practice more compassion this month. — Tom

An honest person is always straightforward in life and uses the support of sincerity and genuineness to encounter difficulties in life. Honesty reinforces a person’s courage and confidence. An honest person will never be scared of the consequences of the deeds they perform. As a result, they will enjoy a state of peace of mind. On the contrary, a dishonest person is afraid of the revelation of truth and that leads to a stressful life.

The policy of being honest helps individuals to be happy in their lives. It strengthens the bond between people and favors the consistency of healthier relationships. It reflects a person’s strong character and enables the person to be recognized among people. In today’s world of corruption and falsehood, a person possessing the trait of honesty stands out in society. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Let’s realize the true strength of honesty and mark our presence in the everlasting marathon for wisdom.

Jesus changed the world with a few who were willing to die for what they believed. He began with 12 men whom He chose to be with Him. But God’s plan for ministry is not limited to these 12 men. It also includes a larger group of believers, the multitudes of listeners and learners, men and women, who heard Jesus gladly. Some were more than curious inquirers who followed Him for only a few weeks. But others accepted His instruction and put it into practice, and they went out to change the world by changing the people.

God’s method for changing the “world around us” is still the same. It is still people. People willing to be counted on for change. People who are willing to stake their lives, fortunes, honor, and efforts to be used by God for change.  First, they changed themselves in Christ and then they let Christ use them to change the others around us.

Are you willing to be one who God will use for change? It doesn’t take great people to do great things, just dedicated ones! —Tom Davis

Day after day, throughout the centuries, the Israelites brought their animal sacrifices for their sins to the priests who offered them each day to God. However, these worship acts had become mundane, ritualistic, and tiresome to both the people and the priests. They had become so tired of these sacrifices they no longer cared about the purity of the animals. The people brought polluted sacrifices, and the priests offered to God whatever the people brought without inquiry or inspection.

It could be said everyone was bored with their worship to God. The people and the priests had grown weary of the same thing over and over. Apathy set in and few cared about offering genuine heartfelt worship and service to God.

Boredom is defined as a state of mind that is characterized by a lack of interest, stimulation, or challenge. Boredom and apathy occur when you’re not fully engaged in what you’re doing or that it’s not meaningful to you.

Church goers today are no different from the ancient Jewish worshipers. Church goers often complain about how bored they are at the church’s worship to God. Often people say, “Church is boring. We do the same thing over again and again.”  Young people stop coming to church because they find it boring. Many who do come out of duty and habit sit there bored, uninterested, and unparticipating in the singing, praying, and listening to the message.

How often do we hear a call for more exciting services? Prayers are too long, keep them short. Sermons should be no more than 20 minutes, or we lose focus. We need constant variety. We keep doing the same thing over and over. If we don’t make church services more exciting our attendance will decline.

No doubt all of us have experienced times of disinterest and boredom at church. But it is the consistent and prolonged periods of boredom each time we attend the worship service that we should be concerned about.

But I ask you, is it the fault of God that worship is boring or is it the fault of the worshiper? God did not change the temple worship just because the people became bored with it. God ordained how He wanted people to worship, and He did not change it. Instead, He called the people to change their attitude to their worship of Him, He said, “…My name will be great among the nations.” [Malachi 1:11]

Worshipers today must realize church worship is not like attending a theater play where we go as spectators to be entertained. Worship is about God’s people engaging in praise and glory to Him and learning more of His will through the proclamation of His word.

Meaningful worship involves loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength. If you have a casual attitude towards God, if you have no real interest in the things of God and in things eternal, then boredom is inevitable. The spiritual mind is concerned for the things of God. The unspiritual mind is concerned with the things of this world, not the things of God. If you have no sincere interest in God or things eternal, it is no wonder you are bored. It is only a matter of time before you withdraw from God and His church, unless you change your attitude.

Meaningful worship involves engagement. Here are some ways to become engaged in church worship and activities.

1)            Engage by participating in the singing, praying, partaking the Lord’s Supper, and listening to the sermon.

2)            Engage by speaking to fellow members. Don’t rush out. Stay and talk. Make friends and acquaintances.

3)            Engage with the speaker by taking notes during the sermon and writing down Scriptures to review later.

4)            Engage with God by reading His word as regularly as you can during the week.

5)            Engage in serious heartfelt prayer. Open you heart to God and ask for a mind more concerned for spiritual things and ask for a deeper love for Him.

6)            Engage by aligning your life actions with the conduct God calls us to incorporate into our behavior.

7)            Engage in the participation of the Sunday services by offering to publicly pray, pass the communion, read Scripture, lead singing, work in the audio visional booth, prepare the communion, etc.

8)            Engage by volunteering to teach in the Sunday school program with our children and our adults.

9)            Engage by attending the weekly Bible classes on Sunday, ladies class Sunday night, and Wednesday Zoom Bible Study.

10)         Engage by volunteering in the church’s community service projects. It will increase your spiritual development by helping others.

11)         Engage by volunteering to help on workdays or the weekly upkeep of the building and grounds.

Of course, let me encourage all who lead in the public weekly service, do so with some degree of sincere enthusiasm. Pray sincere and meaningful prayers. Lead a variety of songs at various tempos. Read Scripture with some inflection in your voice. Give sermon messages with clearly understandable points and with love, compassion, and enthusiasm for the Word of God.

May we never say, “How tired we are of all this!” Instead, may our attitude be one that desires to make God’s name great among the nations! — Tom

The first is 1 Timothy 1:15, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all…”     It is this trustworthy statement that lays the foundation for our eternal salvation. These words are worthy of our complete trust and complete acceptance. Let there be no doubt there is no one else who ever came into the world to save us from our sins other than Christ Jesus. No truer words were said than these written by the apostle. Paul understood the unimaginable significance of those words, for he understood that he had done great harm to the Lord’s church; but he knew there was grace, mercy and forgiveness. Jesus spoke no truer words when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one come to the Father, but through Me.” [John 14:6] Beloved of God, do not be dissuaded from confidence in the saving ability of Christ Jesus.

The second is 1 Timothy 4:7-9, “…on the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; [8] for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. [9] It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.” These words tell us of a double blessing for believers. Pursing a disciplined life that fosters godly behaviors has benefits in this life and in the next life to come. Godly behavior in this life helps avoid so many of the physical and mental ailments resulting from the practices of undisciplined and ungodly behaviors. But even much greater is the double blessing of entrance into the next life because practicing righteous behavior. Are we not exhorted again and again, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” [1 Peter 1:14-16]

The third is 2 Timothy 2:11-12, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.” These two statements compare the two opposites of one’s relationship with the Lord. The first statement is positive. If a believer lives faithfully and dies in the faith, even if the believer suffered persecution for their belief, the reward is great. The believer will reign with Christ in the afterlife. Paul’s words mimic the Lord’s own words, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” [Rev. 2:10] The negativity of the second statement should cause us to take notice. A believer’s denial of the Lord is reciprocated with the Lord’s denial of the faithless believer. Again, Paul draws upon the Lord’s words to make this point. The Lord said, “… whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 10:33] Let the trustworthiness of Paul’s statement drive home the point. We who believe in the Lord must remain faithful believers right up to the end of our life. If we fall short of that in denial of our faith in Christ, we will be denied by the Lord into our everlasting reward.

The last is Titus 3:8, “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds.” This trustworthy statement sets forth the activity of Christian service. These words are telling us that part of our faithfulness to the Lord is to be diligently engage in good deeds.

Let these four trustworthy statements be the north star of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The inspired apostle considered them valid and trustworthy. Let us accept them also and live by them as we prove their trustworthiness with our faithfulness to our Lord. — Tom

Charles Spurgeon, the famous Baptist preacher in London in the 1800’s, had a devotional message for October 17. It spoke of the faithfulness of God towards His people, even when His people think He is not caring over them. I wanted to share it with you. May the following words from Spurgeon be a blessing to you.

Samuel 27:1, recounts David’s words, “And David said in his heart, ‘I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.’”

The thought of David’s heart at this time was a false thought, because he certainly had no ground for thinking that God’s anointing him by Samuel was intended to be left as an empty unmeaning act.

On no[t] one occasion had the Lord deserted His servant; he had been placed in perilous positions very often, but not one instance had occurred in which divine interposition had not delivered him. The trials to which he had been exposed had been varied; they had not assumed one form only, but many – yet in every case He who sent the trial had also graciously ordained a way of escape.

David could not put his finger upon any entry in his diary, and say of it, “Here is evidence that the Lord will forsake me,” for the entire tenor of his past life proved the very reverse. He should have argued from what God had done for him, that God would be his defender still.

But is it not just in the same way that we doubt God’s help? Is it not mistrust without a cause? Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Have not His lovingkindness been marvelous? Has He once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time.

We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have been in stern conflicts, but over our head He has held aloft the shield of our defense. We have gone through many trials, but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience is, that He who has been with us in six troubles, will not forsake us in the seventh.

What we have known of our faithful God, proves that He will keep us to the end. Let us not, then, reason contrary to evidence. How can we ever be so ungenerous as to doubt our God? Lord, throw down the Jezebel of our unbelief, and let the dogs devour it. —- Charles Spurgeon

The diluted water solution of nutrients known as sap, moves from cell to cell within the root tissue. The sap moves upward through the vessels of the plant’s stems. The nutrients are delivered to the plant’s leaves. They are used in photosynthesis to create the “food” required by the plant to sustain its life and produce its flower or fruit.

The Lord with His metaphorical words recorded in John 15:1-8, speaks of Himself as the true vine to which we, the branches, are attached. As branches, we are to bear much fruit, so our heavenly Father is glorified. To help us produce more fruit, the Father as the vinedresser prunes the branches.

Jesus clearly remarks life in the vine depends upon remaining attached to the vine and bearing fruit. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” [John 15:4-5]

A vine’s branch must remain joined to the main vine to receive the life-giving sap. So also, our spiritual life must remain joined to the source of “spiritual sap” for our spiritual nourishment. Removing oneself from Christ cuts you off from spiritual nourishment.

A branch on the ground is separated from the vine. It will slowly dry up and dies. The vinedresser picks up the dead branch and throws it on the pile of other dead branches to later be burnt up.

Jesus stresses the importance of staying in a close life-giving relationship with Him with similar words, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:6]

In addition to having a healthy spiritual life by remaining in Christ, there are two other benefits. One is your prayers are answered. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” [John 15:7] Many of you have experienced the power of answered prayer. If you are not seeing prayers answered, is it possible you have removed yourself from the spiritual life-giving source of Jesus?

Another benefit of remaining in Christ, is fruit production. “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” [John 15:8] The living power of the Holy Spirit courses through the veins of our body. He works within us to bring about the fruits of the Spirit, the behaviors of righteousness, the fruits of our spiritual gifts, the fruit of producing disciples, and the fruit of benevolent deeds to others for the purpose that the Father is glorified, and we prove ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples.

If you see these fruits in your life, then you are abiding in the Jesus. If you do not see these fruits in your life, are you broken off from the vine of Christ? Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away…” [John 15:2]

If there is a sparse production of fruit in your life, then understand, the Father, as the vinedresser, will prune you in beneficial ways to produce more fruit. Jesus said, “…and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” [John 15:2]

A grape vine can produce up to 20 pounds of fruit each year. How much fruit for God can you produce? Ask God to help you be more fruitful for Him and stay attached to Jesus, the life-giving source for every Christian. —- Tom

The first is 1 Timothy 1:15, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all…”     It is this trustworthy statement that lays the foundation for our eternal salvation. These words are worthy of our complete trust and complete acceptance. Let there be no doubt there is no one else who ever came into the world to save us from our sins other than Christ Jesus. No truer words were said than these written by the apostle. Paul understood the unimaginable significance of those words, for he understood that he had done great harm to the Lord’s church; but he knew there was grace, mercy and forgiveness. Jesus spoke no truer words when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one come to the Father, but through Me.” [John 14:6] Beloved of God, do not be dissuaded from confidence in the saving ability of Christ Jesus.

The second is 1 Timothy 4:7-9, “…on the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; [8] for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. [9] It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.” These words tell us of a double blessing for believers. Pursing a disciplined life that fosters godly behaviors has benefits in this life and in the next life to come. Godly behavior in this life helps avoid so many of the physical and mental ailments resulting from the practices of undisciplined and ungodly behaviors. But even much greater is the double blessing of entrance into the next life because practicing righteous behavior. Are we not exhorted again and again, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” [1 Peter 1:14-16]

The third is 2 Timothy 2:11-12, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.” These two statements compare the two opposites of one’s relationship with the Lord. The first statement is positive. If a believer lives faithfully and dies in the faith, even if the believer suffered persecution for their belief, the reward is great. The believer will reign with Christ in the afterlife. Paul’s words mimic the Lord’s own words, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” [Rev. 2:10] The negativity of the second statement should cause us to take notice. A believer’s denial of the Lord is reciprocated with the Lord’s denial of the faithless believer. Again, Paul draws upon the Lord’s words to make this point. The Lord said, “… whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 10:33] Let the trustworthiness of Paul’s statement drive home the point. We who believe in the Lord must remain faithful believers right up to the end of our life. If we fall short of that in denial of our faith in Christ, we will be denied by the Lord into our everlasting reward.

The last is Titus 3:8, “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds.” This trustworthy statement sets forth the activity of Christian service. These words are telling us that part of our faithfulness to the Lord is to be diligently engage in good deeds.

Let these four trustworthy statements be the north star of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The inspired apostle considered them valid and trustworthy. Let us accept them also and live by them as we prove their trustworthiness with our faithfulness to our Lord. — Tom

To be silent over the Lord’s great mercies to you is to show an attitude of ingratitude.  To hold your tongue and not praise Him is to be as guilty as the nine lepers healed by the Lord who did not express their gratitude.  Why is that event in the gospel record?  Could it be the Holy Spirit is teaching us when blessed in some way by God we should express words of praise and gratitude.

Does not the Hebrew writer remind us of that with this exhortation, “Through Him [Jesus] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” [Hebrews 13:15] Does the ripen fruit of thanksgiving and praise drop from you lips?

As we come upon another Thanksgiving season, look back over the year and give thought to all the manifold blessings God has bestowed on you.  No doubt there have been challenges and sorrows, but even in those times, did not God give you a blessing of some sort, even if it was just strength to endure.

The praises of gratitude help us recognize our dependence upon the mighty arm of our Lord.  Praises of thanksgiving help us realize how often God hears and answers our pleas for assistance.  Praises of appreciation strengthen us in times of weakness and doubt, for it causes us to focus our mind upon every good gift He has bestowed upon us as His child.

Angels don’t pray but they cease not to praise. The redeemed who abide in heaven give praise and thanks to the Father and the Son. Both angels and the redeemed cry out, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory, and dominion forever and ever.” [Revelation 5:13]

While on earth, while we have the breath of life, let us give praise and thanks to our God! — Tom

The MV Alta was next sighted by HMS Protector in September 2019, near Bermuda. After this sighting, she continued to drift. On February 16, 2020, 16 months since it was abandoned, the vessel finally ran aground on the Irish Coast during a storm.

Christians, like sea vessels, can go adrift and eventual ship wreck. Scripture says, “… we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord..” [Hebrews 2:1-3]

In the oceans there are powerful currents which tug at every ship. These ocean currents can cause a ship to slowly and often unnoticedly drift away from the harbor if the vessel is not securely moored. As a ship slowly drifts, the safety of harbor is still visible in the distance. But with continued drifting, the harbor disappears.

In the same way spiritual drifting is slow and unrealized. Drifting away from our faith, from our commitment to the Lord, His church, and godly behavior, is a slow process. The safety of the Christian harbor still appears in sight. But as we continue to drift, soon the safety and security of our Christian harbor, disappears. Now we are spiritually adrift, spiritually lost, and heading for the rocks of lost faith.

For every believer who loses their faith from a direct onslaught from the devil, multitudes of believers slowly drift away from God’s truth, regular worship, a life of faith, and a godly life style. Therefore be diligent to give closer attention to being securely moored to the harbor of your Christian faith, so you do not drift away and shipwreck thus neglecting your great salvation. — Tom