June 8, 2018
Engendered for Compassion
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he
was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For
it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
(Deut. 21:23 Greek version)
Galatians 3:13
How much of our wrongdoing was
included in the death of Jesus on the cross? How much of the wrongdoing of the
entire world was included in the death of Jesus on the cross? Is there any sin,
any wrongdoing, any deviant behavior, any monstrosity, any crime or brutality,
any act of oppression that is not included in the death of Jesus on the cross?
The clear and unambiguous
teaching of Scripture answers those three questions with a resounding NO! The death of Jesus on the cross redeemed
all humanity from the penalty for all of our sins against God. The compassion
of Jesus to bear our transgressions is more than my finite mind can comprehend.
I am surprised that the Gospels only used the word compassion eight times in
describing Jesus’ response to human need. For me, I am not sure there is a
better word to describe what was in the heart of God in Christ as he took upon
himself the curse for my sins.
Merriam-Webster says compassion
is a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry or in trouble.
Wikipedia, says compassion is the feeling of empathy for others. Compassion is
the emotion that we feel in response to the suffering of others that motivates
a desire to help. That pretty much sums up Jesus’ motivation to go to the cross
for us, his response to the suffering of humanity. Jesus’ compassion for me
saved me!
My Takeaway: I sense God calling me to spend more time
contemplating His compassion for me. Why? I believe it is God’s compassion for
me which motivates Him to reach out to me over and over again for all eternity.
As the Father draws me into His compassionate heart, He engenders compassion
within me: “As God’s chosen ones, holy
and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,
and patience” (Colossians 3:12 NRSV).
Sē’lah
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(Selah is a word that appears in the
Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my
correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about
these things.)
These
meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his
way of life. The meditations are
published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/
and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may
subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by
subscription.
Publications by Alex M. Knight:
·
Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New
Testament and Psalms has been
published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.
·
The second
edition of First Think – Then Pray
is available on Amazon Kindle.
·
Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus
Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
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