Day 13: Gratitude focus – A friend or missionary living in a foreign country
Quality or name of God – Compassionate
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[I apologize in advance for the lengthiness of this post, but I trust that after reading it, you will understand the heart behind it.]
Following the recent election in the US, much talk has been made over some of the issues that Christ-followers find opposed to the teachings of Scripture. In keeping with this month of gratitude, I will start by saying that I am grateful to live in a land where free discussion and varying views can be shared.
I think it is imperative for those of us who are Christ-followers to boldly uphold the free practice of our faith. However, I find it almost shocking when Christians seem surprised that the world around them does not agree with their beliefs. My friends, you cannot expect others to play by your team’s “playbook” when they are not even members of the team! Think of it this way: the Milwaukee Bucks do not expect me to wear their uniform nor do they expect me to know their plays…because I’m not on their team! [And for good reason, I might add. Picture me trying to make a jump shot!] Now imagine someone yelling and screaming at you for not following their rules. Most likely the last thing you would want to do after that would be to join their team!
I have been greatly saddened by the fact that some discussions are naming certain things in hateful and literally angry ways. Yes, I do personally believe that the murder of an unborn child goes against the teaching of Scripture, but so do pride, lying, malice, gossip, immorality, envy, etc. Before speaking angrily about those who are not on our “team,” we must look in the mirror, remove the big ol’ beam stickin’ out of our eye (Matthew 7:3-5), and then let our speech be given with grace (Colossians 4:6) as we share the love of Christ by the way in which we defend our causes.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103)
The Lord is compassionate when He looks at the sins I commit—all too often, I admit—and though He hates sin deeply, He takes compassion on me. The word used for ‘compassion’ in this Psalm can also be translated as ‘mercy’ or even ‘tender mercies.’ I don’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it. But He graciously gives it to me.
Yes, we must pray for our nation. Yes, we should seek to change, add, or remove laws so that they are in keeping with God’s laws. Yes, we must submit to the authority of those who have rule over us when their rule does not conflict with God’s laws. But in remembering the compassion that we daily receive from Him and in attempting to be like Him, we must demonstrate that same compassion for others. As the great missionary Amy Carmichael would have said, “Then, and only then, do we truly understand Calvary love!”
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Additional reading (for reading through the Psalms in 30 days):
Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133
______________ ______________Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:
» – Send an email to thank your recipient for their willingness to live abroad for whatever reason they are there.
»$ – Send a letter to your friend, and share updates from “home.”
$ – Call your friend or Skype (free) with them, even if only for a few moments. Be mindful of their time zone, and be sure to say ‘thank you’ at least once!
» = free »$ = minimal cost $ = cost involved
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” (Henri Nouwen)