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FOLLOW GOD’S HEART OF COMPASSION – Ray E Horton
Us conservative Christians often are seen by the more liberal believers, some of whom may not even be believers, of being so concerned with spreading the Word, we don’t care about social ills. Well, our focus should be on people’s salvations, but we should stand convicted when we remember the Lord’s heart. He is a God of compassion, Who loves those in need.
Some scripture passages
It’s God’s heart, His plan, His Word to us, as seen all through the Bible
Let’s look at some scripture passages:
There are two big reasons we should focus more than we often do on the needs of society and the poor:
- When we touch people, love them, heal them, care for them, they will be more apt to listen to the gospel. They’ll see Jesus in us.
- It’s God’s heart, His plan, His Word to us, as seen all through the Bible, i.e., Luke 4:14-20 and Isa 61, Matt 25:34-36, Isa. 58:6-12
Luke 4: 14-20 –
“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit …He went to Nazareth … and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue… The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll … and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.'”
Matt 25:34-36 –
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'”
Isa. 58:6-12 –
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
