Making a Difference...

How many times have we sat back and said, "Somebody ought to do something about that!!" Whatever the problem or controversy was, it may have had us moved, mad, or majorly disgusted! But, what did we do about it? Did we stop to think that WE could possibly help MAKE A DIFFERENCE to the situation? As a child of God, what can we do to help others or ourselves with problems and burdens? The answer is easier than we might expect: HAVE COMPASSION!

My pastor , when I was growing up, Dr. Verdie Edwards, always told us that compassion is simply defined as "love in action." We can tell someone that we care or love them, and it seem as vain repetition, until we actually SHOW that love! Compassion BRINGS action. When we see the lost, it should MOVE us to GO!
"GO YE into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. " Mark 16:15. Christ gave this command, NOT SUGGESTION, to ALL OF US, to GO! When we go out, we need to go in love and COMPASSION toward those that are without the Lord. "..Such as were some of you: BUT YE ARE WASHED.." II Corinthians 6:11 a. We can have compassion on the lost because we were in the same shape at one time as well! WE have been there! We KNOW where they are! This should move us to GO even more so! "..GO out into the highways and hedges and COMPEL them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23. The Lord DID NOT tell us to beat people over the head or condemn them! He said Compel! This is the equivalent of PLEADING with. How can we expect someone to listen when we don't LOVE? Most people don't need someone to tell them all that they have done wrong _they know just as we did!  They need to hear WHO CAN HELP THEM AND CHANGE THEM! There is NO EXCUSE for us NOT SHOWING COMPASSION to the lost when we used to be lost ourselves! " ...and to brotherly kindness, charity. ... But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS!" II Peter 1: 7 & 9. Compassion should be what drives us to GO make a difference to the lost!
 
Secondly, we can make a difference when we GIVE from compassion. " But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of COMPASSION from him, HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM?" I John 3:17. "Mine eye affecteth mine heart..." Lamentations 3:51. What we see should make us give from compassion. The Lord told the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, and how he GAVE from compassion. "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he HAD COMPASSION on him." vs. 33. The Lord said a certain Samaritan. This means it was not just anyone, but a specific Samaritan that had compassion. It was this one "certain" person that the Lord would use to help the "half dead" man, vs 30. Just as the Lord had a "certain" person to help this man, we have a "certain" person that only we can make a difference to! I may be able to reach someone that you may not be able to, and vice versa. Pray everyday for the Lord to put in your path, just as He did the Samaritan's, the people that He wants you to show compassion to. Reach out to them in compassion, GIVING TO THEM what the Lord would have you to give. Not just material things, but the SPIRITUAL as well! That IS THE GREATEST NEED THEY HAVE! "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is SIN." James 4:17.

Lastly, we should not GRUDGE because of compassion! "Grudge not one against another, brethren...". We should not hold a grudge against our Christian brothers and sisters, or the world! If we don't forgive them, we will not be forgiven! (Matthew 18:33-35). We should forgive them in love and compassion when they have wronged us, or others, for Christ's sake! "And be ye kind one to another, TENDERHEARTED forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32. We can make a difference to our brothers and sisters in Christ by loving them and encouraging them when they have stumbled. We can make a difference by "turning the other cheek" to the world when we are attacked. We never know how our reactions can be used to speak to the lost about their salvation! "Finally, be ye all of one mind, HAVING COMPASSION one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing:..." I Peter 3:8 & 9.

 We can make a difference today by GOING, GIVING, AND GRUDGING NOT. May God help us to do so ALWAYS out of COMPASSION! "Of some HAVING COMPASSION, MAKING A DIFFERENCE!" Jude 23.