As we embark into this new year, the new journey, the new decade it is with a sense of urgency that the people of God are awakened. In our world today we there are wars and rumors of wars, calamities happening across the land; Australian fires, earthquakes, floods, and the likes. Hatred and bigotry spewing like never before; children and adults locked in cages bound by walls, young black women being kidnapped by the droves, with no explanation as to where they have gone, sex and human trafficking at an all-time high, and what is our response? Have the people of God been moved to action or are we simply still just thinking about it?
Compassion is total empathy, an absolute sense of connection.
Our world needs God! In a very powerful way. In a way that sparks compassion, that promotes true unity, and that brings people to a place that helps them recognize the need for action even if you are not “directly” affected by that which is happening. Compassion...is an understanding of the unity of all things. It is an awareness that is not separate from us, it is an understanding that that whatever is happening to the planet, or to another person, is happening to me. Compassion is total empathy, an absolute sense of connection. It is seeing these troops as our sons and daughters, it is seeing those encaged as our family, it is seeing those trafficked as our babies. The love and compassion that should rest in our hearts is not just a separated ideological thought that causes us to sit on the side lines and do nothing. True compassion should move us to action. What it is not, is saying those two-second prayers; you know, the ones you say when you see something bad like an accident, “Lord, Help!” and then move on and go about your day like nothing ever happened. Yeah guys, that’s not compassion.
We must move beyond ourselves and our issues.
When you truly develop a love and compassion for people; what’s happening around our world will plague you. It will lead you to cry out to the Father in relentless ways, it will move you to action. Knowing that the Lord promises us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Corinthians 7:14) The Lord will hear us, but we must call out to Him. We must move beyond ourselves and our issues and be concerned about the things of this world. We must come together as a unit in solidarity around the world in order to see change.
Know that you may feel lonely but you are not alone.
It is time for the church to WAKE UP! Seriously, be awakened from our comforts, our agendas, our schemes of wealth and grandeur, our twisted motives, our hateful speech and thoughts towards one another. Wake up and come together across denominational, cultural, and generational lines.
For those who have been awakened, please know that you may feel lonely but you are not alone. For those that are coming into a greater awareness, I say to you it is the Lord awakening you and giving you a burden for those things, do not resist Him nor turn a deaf ear to what you see. For those who believe that none of these things directly affect you, I strongly encourage you to wake up. Come out of your slumber, for this is not simply a suggestion from me but a request written in the book(bible) we live by. “The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God." (Micah 6:8)
The future of our world depends on our willingness to go beyond what is comfortable for us.
Creation is crying out for the manifestation of the children of God, to truly be light and hope in this world. The future of our world depends on our willingness to go beyond what is comfortable for us and truly pursue what is on the heart and mind of God. As people who have been benefactors of mercy, grace, and the love of God, it is only responsible to extend the same.
Dear Friends, I leave you with these prayerful words: Lord make us aware of what is really on your heart. Help us to love as you do, to be concerned about what concerns you. Move us from a place of analysis and complaint, to mercy and action. Forgive us, for times past where we have not fully been committed to your heart of justice and righteousness for all peoples. Help us to be cognizant of the matters across the world and the role that we can play in doing justly. Lead us to a place of full surrender to your will and a willingness to go beyond familiarity. All things asked in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Are you looking for ways to get uncomfortable? Check out our suggestions for how to do more.
Photo by Alex Azabache on Unsplash
The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the blog represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church. Learn more about this blog, Reformed doctrines, and our diversity policy on our About page.
In order to steward ministry shares well, commenting isn’t available on Do Justice itself because we engage with comments and dialogue in other spaces. To comment on this post, please visit the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue’s Facebook page (for Canada-specific articles) or the Office of Social Justice’s Facebook page. Alternatively, please email us. We want to hear from you!
Read more about our comment policy.