Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the God of compassion. As people, it is sometimes difficult to have compassion on those we view as “beneath” us, but God has tremendous compassion on us, even though we are infinitely beneath Him.
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion” (Psalm 86:15). The idea of tender, fatherly compassion is expressed in these familiar verses. “Like as a father pitieth [has compassion on] his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14).
God has compassion on us because He knows how frail we are. He is the One who made us, and He knows our weak frame made of dust. “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (Psalm 139:15).
God knows the weakness of all people, but He is also aware that in many ways, women are weaker than men. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Peter 3:7). Again, God knows exactly how He has made us, and His compassion corresponds to His knowledge.
Not only does God have compassion on us because we are weak humans, and further because we are weak women, but His compassion also takes into account the trials in life that further compound our weakness. Whether that be a physical illness or some other kind of pressure, we stumble beneath the burdens. But God knows every detail of the additional struggles that we face. “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me” (Psalm 142:3).
Because God knows the difficulty of our path, He responds with compassion. Can you not hear His compassionate tone as He speaks to Satan regarding Job? “Although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2:3). In fact, regarding Job, we later read, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful [compassionate], and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). God’s heart is filled with compassion through the entire trial, and the evidence of His compassion will clearly emerge in the end.
How can God have such understanding compassion? In part, it is because Jesus learned compassion through His own suffering. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17). “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Because we have such a compassionate God, we can have all confidence to come to Him when we are weak and needy. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We can cry out to Him as many did to Jesus. “And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us” (Matthew 9:27). Our words can be similar: “Lord, have mercy on me. Oh, God, show compassion. Dear Father, take heed to my pitiful situation.”
We are so weak, and it is a great comfort to have a God who is so strong and who looks on us with loving and understanding compassion. He is good to help and support us in our weakness. Thank You, Father, for Your great compassion.
Happy Resurrection Day!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
No comments:
Post a Comment