Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: compassion

God’s Compassion

Encouragement, Salvation

God’s Compassion

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew the he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed?
John 5:6

Healed by Jesus

While in Jerusalem, Jesus walked by a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years.  Every day he would sit next to the Pool of Bethesda waiting for someone to pick him up and place him into the pool when it began to stir.  Foolishly, there was a well known superstition that supposedly an angel would stir the water and the first person to step into the pool would be healed of their disease.  For 38 years this man anticipated the day that he would be healed.  On this certain day Jesus walked up to him and asked if he wanted to be healed.  Instead of a yes or no answer the man gave an excuse that no one would help him into the water.  Jesus then told him to get up and pack up his bed and walk.  Instantly the man was healed and he walked away.

This miracle was the result of God’s great compassion.  The first thing to notice is the fact that this man could not save himself.  He had good intentions but he couldn’t do it on his own. He needed help and he needed a Savior.  Second, this man was chosen by Jesus.  In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”  Thirdly, Jesus gave him new life.  For 38 years this man was stuck in unfavorable circumstances until Jesus came into his life and gave him hope.

Are you thankful for God’s compassion and saving grace in your life?

Prayer

Pray and thank God for sending His Son, Jesus, into this world to save you for giving you eternal life and hope.

In His Hands

Encouragement

“You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:16-18‬

It is amazing to know that God is in control of all things. The power that is within the majesty and glory of God can never be understood by human logic. For the Lord declares, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:9‬)

Let’s ponder God’s compassion and grace for a moment. It is God alone who forgives sin and heals the nations. It is God who graciously gives to those who are in need and blesses those who are faithful.  It is God who fights our battles and destroys our enemies.  We have a compassionate Father who loves to bless His children and keeps them safe in His hand. Throughout the entire Bible we witness God seeking to have a relationship with His people.

God wants everyone to experience His great love and compassion. However, not everyone belongs to God. If you don’t belong to God you are at war with Him. And I promise you, God is victorious!  You will never win a war with the One who created you.  If Satan was honest, he would say the same.

As a child of God, rest assured that His compassion never ends. “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
‭‭(Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23) Be confident in knowing that God will always take care of you. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬)

Pray as king David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”‭‭ (Psalms‬ ‭51:10-12)