LUCADO: Compassion

Devotions based on The Lucado Inspirational Reader by Max Lucado, Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 

TUESDAY, February 18   Expectations
Matthew 25:40 MSG
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

     The least of these.  The ignored or overlooked.  We don't expect to find Jesus here.  We look for more saintly and sacred spaces.  Our expectations blind us. 
     Lucado shares a wonderful story of world-class violinist Joshua Bell who goes to a DC Metro Station and plays his 3.5 million dollar violin as a street musician, complete with open case for donations.  In an hour, he makes $37.  Three nights earlier, he played at a symphony hall for about $1000 a minute.  The difference?  People didn't come to the Metro expecting to such quality; they didn't come expecting to be interrupted by perfection.  Our expectations blind us to what lies within.     
     If we expect to see Jesus in every face we encounter, we will find him.  We will find where and how to serve him.  We will discover opportunities for compassion and kindness.        
     Open my eyes, Lord, and let me expect Jesus everywhere, and may I respond accordingly.  


MONDAY, February 17  Kindness
Ephesians 4:32 CEB
Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.
     Kindness.  Be kind.  We toss the word around as a virtue, the obvious manner in which we should act.  But truly KIND people are a step above others.  They are kind to the unloved.  They reach out to those on the 'other side of the tracks'.  They perform acts of kindness for those who think differently, who take what they want, perhaps even enemies.  Their deeds are silently done without the desire for recognition.  Compassion and kindness go hand in hand.  
     Lucado asks, 'What's your kindness quotient?'  A good question!  We can start small.  Kindness often need not be on a world-shattering scale.  The next door neighbor with the messy yard is a good start!  Shovel their walk of snow, pick up their trash.  Think of it as a RAK meter.  Could I list a deliberate Random Act of Kindness performed at day's end...... every day?  It doesn't have to be big, just intentional.  A good challenge. 
     Kindness lays the seeds for a life of compassion.  Kindness is the start of servant-hood.  Kindness seeks out service.  What is MY quotient?


SUNDAY, February 16   Servanthood
Matthew 20:28 MSG
[Jesus] came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
     Sometimes servant-hood means doing things that aren't top on our list.  It means doing the hard stuff, the dirty stuff.  God calls us to use our talents, but not always in the manner we expect!  We might not think our gifts include THAT kind of service!  
     But it does.  Look at Jesus.  He often chose the lesser road, the darker shadows, the shadier companions.  That was where he was needed.  Do I do the same?  Not often!  Who do I ask to help me on a committee?  Where do I choose to offer my gifts?  Do I seek the safe, the secure, the clean and tidy?  
     What kind of servant am I?  What kind of servant should I be?  

SATURDAY, February 15   Spirit Clothed 
Revelation 3:20 GNT
 Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.
    Lucado paints a word picture of God as a pair of gloves, filling the fingers with the Spirit to enable us to do God-work.  A closed fist doesn't open to the world; the fingers must fill the glove to reach out and be useful.  

"God gets his fingers into our lives, inch by inch reclaiming the territory that is rightfully his." (p. 53)

      It puts a different slant on getting dressed in the morning.  When I pull on my shoes, am I thinking, 'Where will God take my feet today as we work together?'  As I wrap my heart and soul with a warm shirt, do I allow the God-spirit to warm my heart to reach out to those who are hurting around me?  When I put on my work gloves at a Habitat site, do I stop to think that God is working through my fingers as well?  As I don my eyeglasses each day, do I ever stop and ask God to give me clear vision to SEE where love and compassion is needed? 
      God stands next to me each morning in the bedroom, knocking.  How often do I open myself up and allow God in to eat, to work through me?  Come, Lord Jesus, come inside!  

FRIDAY, February 14  Second Look  
2 Corinthians 5:16 MSG
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look.

     No labels.  No 'first' impressions.  Our call as Christians is to take the second look, the look inside, to the heart that lies within.  We sometimes treat people as trash, to be tossed aside, based solely on that first look.  
     As an artist, I love to take those materials to be tossed out and recycle them,  to find the inherent beauty in which they can be transformed.  Jesus does this with us as well.  We are blemished and unfinished.  But through Christ, we can glow with the light of a new soul.  
     As there people around me that I have tossed out?  That I have neglected to know and love?  Do I need to take a second look and allow God to work through me?  Of what handiwork of God can I be a part?  

 

CHRISTMASTIDE

d365.org PRESENCE OF GOD  (Isaac Watts)
Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing!  

SATURDAY, January 5
"Getting Dressed"
Colossians 3:12-14,17 (The Message)
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Get up and out of bed. 
Get dressed. 
What shall I wear? 
I have choices, you know!
Should I put on Conceit or Contempt today?
I feel like wearing my little Arrogance hat. 
It's cold outside. 
I'll put on my Coat of Indifference. 
And shield myself  from the chill of the world. 

Christmas is over. A new year begun. 
Christmas should make a difference. 
Christmas should change what I wear.  
God gave me new clothes for Christmas!
I have a new coat - COMPASSION!
I have a new hat - HUMILITY!
I can put on a new sweater of STRENGTH,
And pants of PATIENCE.  
Each gift comes with the LOVE Label -
A God-garment woven with threads of love. 
I can bundle up in love, 
Wrap love around my neck, 
Tuck my hands and head in love
And venture out into the cold,
With overflowing love to share
And warm the chill of the world.

Christmas means a new wardrobe. 
What are YOU wearing today?
You have a choice, you know. 

FRIDAY, January 4
"Growing Up"
Luke 2:52 (Good News Translation)
Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and people.
     Many years ago I asked my then 75-year-old mother, 'When did you feel grown up?'  She replied, 'When my mother died.'  I decided that I immediately wasn't in any hurry to BE grown-up!  

     Growing is something we do ALL of our life.  Physically we mature around 14-20, and hopefully don't spend the rest of our life growing OUT rather than UP!  The physical growth is the easy part of maturity.  Growing spiritually and mentally, in wisdom of God and the world, is another matter.  Just because we complete our formal education, doesn't mean learning stops. Wisdom is gained through experience and interaction with the world, through observation.  Spiritual growth continues through new challenges and service, through study and sharing with others.  
      Jesus grew, gaining favor with God and people.  Am I asking God to be a part of my growth?    Am I pleasing to others as I strive to grow in wisdom and maturity?  
      Despite what my mother said, I don't think we EVER are 'all grown up'.  Not in this life anyway.  There is always more to learn, more to explore, and new opportunities to serve!  


THURSDAY, January 3
"Listen First"
Luke 2:46-50 (Good News Translation)

 On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions.  All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.”

 He answered them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?” But they did not understand his answer.

    Where's Jesus?  His parents found him, of all places, at the Temple!  Of course!  In his Father's house! We should find Jesus today living in our churches and cathedrals, our houses of worship!  Perhaps, but some of our churches have lost Jesus as well amid division, conflict, and misdirection.  Perhaps we need to expand our search!  
    And what was the twelve year old Jesus doing?  Listening, asking questions, and listening more.  The teachers were awed by the depth of his understanding and his responses, but FIRST he listened.   Could we learn the same approach?   To admit we don't know it all and listen with humility? Patience?   It will take a willingness to realize that learning may come from unexpected people - not the teachers and preachers.
    What might I learn today, and from whom?  Am I willing to talk less and listen? To question?  To learn?
   

        WEDNESDAY, January 2
"Where's Jesus?"
Luke 2:43-45  (The Message)
When it [Passover] was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.

     Where's Waldo? books.  Finding Nemo movies. As a society, we do considerable looking for missing people and things.  We lose track of important matters in the chaos of our lives. Finding Jesus in the crowd of travelers would be much like searching in a Waldo book with hundreds of figures, animals, and the dry terrain.   I can imagine Mary and Joseph putting out a 'Jesus' Alert for their son!
     Have we lost Jesus today?  Only if we lose sight of him in the midst of the crowd.  Only if we keep looking in the wrong places and in the wrong faces. We might need to look beyond the familiar crowd of family and friends.  We might need to look beyond the wealthy and powerful.  We will perhaps find Jesus in the most unexpected places, among surprising, humble faces.  
    There is still a star guiding our way. We must actively continue the search.   Where will you and I find Jesus today? 


TUESDAY, January 1 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message)
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
A new year stretches ahead, Lord. 
A year of opportunities. 
A year of challenges. 
A year of the unknown.
But a year with you.
God with us. 
God among us. 
May I use the opportunities for service 
To see your face in those around me
Who long for a warm meal, 
   a soft touch, 
   a pillow for their head.
May I be challenged to seek the 'least of these'
And make them my friends. 
As you are my friend. 
May I travel beyond my comfortable life
To the unknown glory of a life lived in your service. 
So that I might be as God among us. 
And do your work...in your name. 
A new year stretches ahead, Lord.
Walk with me 
And use me. 
Amen.   

MONDAY, December 31
"Right Times"
Eccesiastes 3:1-8 (The Message)

There’s an opportune time to do things, 

a right time for everything on the earth: 

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer....

Good times and bad times,

Prosperity and struggle,
Triumph and challenge,

Healing and disease,

Laughter and lament,
Life and death.

A right time for everything. 

Emmanuel. 

God is with us. 

God is among us. 

In good times and bad,

In praise and entreaty,
In song and sorrow, 

God is holding us. 

A right time for God. 

Always. 

Forever. 

     It is the last day of the year.  A time for reflection?  What were the years 'seasons'?  The highs and the lows?  Everyone has them - they are a part of life.  Where and when did we see God at work?  How did we respond to God?  Where did we serve as the hands of God?  As we reflect, what changes might we make together with God to help us better acknowledge 'God with us'?  Changes that might help us better 'prepare Him room' in our hearts and our lives?  

     Happy New Year.  Happy New Life.  Happy Emmanuel.  

SUNDAY, December 30
"Heaven and Nature Sing!"
Psalm 148:1-5  (The Message)

Hallelujah!
Praise God from heaven,
    praise him from the mountaintops;
Praise him, all you his angels,
    praise him, all you his warriors,
Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven,
    praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—
    he spoke the word, and there they were!

      Christmastide!  -  A liturgical period of celebration and joy between the birth of our Savior and the arrival of the magi on Epiphany!  Today's scripture (and I added Psalm 150 to the list) reminds us that all earth, all creation, is involved in the celebration.  All earth must prepare to receive the King!    

   Two thousand (give or take) years ago, the Christmas story involved celestial bodies of stars, skies of angels, sheep, camels, and the animals of the stable.  ALL creation was involved in the coming of Christ; all creation must be included today in the praise - and the salvation as well!   
     Join today with the created world in celebration of God's gift!!  Rejoice in the beauty of the snowflake, the glory of sunrise and sunset, the warmth of sunlight; the magic of the creatures surrounding us.  Rejoice, receive, and shower our God with praise!