Perhaps. What if we’re really deceived into thinking we’re walking the life of a servant for Christ, but actually fail several tests every day (within our hearts)? Have any of us become cold, calloused Christians?
Jesus taught mercy and compassion. Are we living our days as though it could be our last? Or are we so caught up in absent minded thinking on the many events we’re participating in, or the many items on our to do list, that we get aggravated when the Lord sets someone in our path to help, because it steals our precious time that we have allotted for our task and knocks us off our time schedule? Do we get aggravated when our kids, our family, or friends call and need help because we’re trying to keep our calendar? Those are the times we could be loving and compassionate; but they’re not in our calendar.
Instead, we’d like to calendar in a day for us to be loving and compassionate; like for example, the time we’ve placed on our calendar to help with the church bazaar, or the good will place or the good Samaritan or nursing home. We want our love and mercy to fit into our calendar (or our budget), and if it doesn’t, we don’t have time for it!
Mark 7:6-23 - “6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups:and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered:and many such like things do ye.
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him:but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
We’re given opportunities each day to be kind and gracious. Many of us ignore these opportunities by passing them on to others.
Have you ever begrudgingly helped someone? Perhaps outwardly you were kind and loving, but inside you were gritting your teeth? I guess what’s really in our hearts is what matters.
Life is a struggle. We all go through difficult times and need help at some point. Even when we pick up the phone to call a friend, it’s because we’re needing something; whether it’s encouragement, a listening ear, advice, or just confirmation that we have a friend when we’re lonely.
As babies learn to crawl and walk, we all must learn how to take care of ourselves to survive in this world. During the process we will need help. And sometimes we’re met with bitterness or even turned away. We should probably pray that we are merciful and compassionate, and don’t ever get calloused.
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