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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Benevolent Compassion
"If a person asks you for something, then give it to him.
Don't refuse to give to a person that wants to borrow from
you."
-- Matthew 5:42 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
In the last several statements, Jesus challenges us to a way of life
that does not reflect conventional thinking. These radical challenges
should not be read legalistically. At the same time, we must hear
Jesus' imploring us to live by a Kingdom Family ethic toward others so
that we can be powerful witnesses in a world so self-absorbed. While
letting someone take financial advantage of us is not Jesus' intention
(there certainly are other passages in the New Testament that help us
understand this), he definitely wants us to be incredibly generous with
others. We must refuse to put our personal possessions above the needs
of others. God's Kingdom, and our citizenship in it, should be the
primary force determining what we do to help, how we help, and how much
we give up to help. But clearly, our lifestyle should be one of
blessing and helping and giving, not judging and criticizing and
hoarding.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Sacrificial Father, you gave so much for me so that I could be your
child. Please help me see people through your eyes, with your truth and
compassion. I want to be a source of blessing in what I say and do.
Grow my generosity so others may see your grace in me and give you the
glory. In the name of your most precious Gift I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0304-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+5:42&sr=1&t=erv
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE END OF REASON: A RESPONSE TO THE NEW ATHEISTS, by Ravi Zacharias
Zacharias cuts to the core of the atheist problem and presents a case
for truth resolving itself in a presentation of God in the person of
Jesus Christ as the intelligence behind the universe, and the end (the
culmination, not the cessation) of reason.
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