Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Isaiah 54:4-8 (NIV)
4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband—
the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. 7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion, I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
How has God shown compassion toward you? Others you know?
To which Bible text above can you most relate? In what way?
Do you deserve God’s compassion? Why or why not?
On whom, if anyone, do you have compassion? For what reason? How have you shown it?
Are any of those upon which you have compassion people you don’t know, don’t like, or of which you are afraid? If not, what could you do to experience an attitude change?
Lord of compassion, when my sins deserved punishment and death, you loved me anyway. You forgave me and even gave Your life on the cross to make me clean so I could spend eternity with You. I saw disgrace but, in Your compassion, You saw grace. Help me to have compassion and patience for others. Help me to see them through Your eyes and take the time to perceive their situation so that I can serve them in practical ways. Allow me to never take what I have been given for granted or overlook how I could us what I have to assist others; including strangers. They are not strangers to you, but a child of Yours and deserve respect. Amen