Three things for all of us to remember:
Seek, Serve, and Speak
There's a world of not-yet-believers out there around us who Jesus died
for. Our job is to seek them out, serve them in love, and speak to them
about Jesus' love. This week I'm continuing on having a heart of
compassion toward people around us, some of why we don't, and what to
do about it. Be moved by people's plight, like Jesus was.




Do Some Good
Reach Out and Attract (part 4)


People Are More Important Than Sheep

 1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the
Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some
heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and
protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting
grain on the Sabbath.”

 3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David
did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of
God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred
loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t
you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may
work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even
greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent
disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to
show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even
over the Sabbath!”

 9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man
with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a
person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would
say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the
Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And
how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a
person to do good on the Sabbath.”

 13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out
his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the
Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. 15 But Jesus knew
what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed
him.    Matthew 12:1-15 NLT

Is it worth it?
What will I receive in return?
How much pain will this cause me?
Maybe someone else will take care of it?


* Place a High Value on Compassion

Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not
religion.’  ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be
merciful to others.’ I didn’t come to invite good people to be my
followers. I came to invite sinners.    Matt 9:13 CEV Msg

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from
your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the
law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not
neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23 NIV

You’re blessed when you care.   Matthew 5:7 NIV


* Expect to Sacrifice

In view of God’s mercy... offer your bodies as living sacrifices...
Romans 12:1 NIV

your sacrifices... the way you serve because you believe.       Philippians
2:17 NIrV

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we
also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.   1 John
3:16 NLT


* Connect My Feel to Real

Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all
the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith
indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an
old friend dressed in rags and half starved and say, “Good morning,
friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk
off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does
that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God talk without God acts is
outrageous nonsense?    James 2:14 Msg


Dear children, don’t just talk about love.
Put your love into action.
DO something about it.
1 John 3:18 NIrV WSV