WEBVTT 00:04.300 --> 00:12.788 [SPEAKER_01]: As we begin to wrap up our week on being used by God, today will explore what it means to live compassionately. 00:12.808 --> 00:20.376 [SPEAKER_01]: This radical way of living will transform the people around you and expose them to the beautiful nature of Jesus. 00:21.637 --> 00:32.468 [SPEAKER_01]: After we experience His great compassion for us, may we have no choice but to mimic that with others. 01:02.688 --> 01:20.241 [SPEAKER_01]: Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32, Scripture says, Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. 01:23.765 --> 01:30.251 [SPEAKER_01]: One of the most impactful ways we can share God's heart with others is by living compassionately. 01:31.732 --> 01:38.199 [SPEAKER_01]: To show compassion is to step outside of yourself and love another in times of weakness. 01:39.240 --> 01:53.653 [SPEAKER_01]: And to live compassionately is to posture your heart continually, toward giving grace and love to those who need it most. 01:54.798 --> 02:06.910 [SPEAKER_01]: When someone sees me in my imperfection and chooses to love me rather than cast me aside, my affection for them and God is automatically stirred. 02:08.732 --> 02:13.797 [SPEAKER_01]: Oftentimes the world is too busy or self-focused to show compassion. 02:14.958 --> 02:23.387 [SPEAKER_01]: We get too caught up in our plans, our needs, and our image to see the hurting and share God's heart. 02:25.055 --> 02:30.045 [SPEAKER_01]: But God is calling us to a life-lived humbly and sacrifishly. 02:31.528 --> 02:40.566 [SPEAKER_01]: Philippians two forces let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 02:42.200 --> 02:45.164 [SPEAKER_01]: The world is in desperate need of compassion. 02:46.486 --> 02:49.230 [SPEAKER_01]: People need mercy and grace when they fail. 02:49.811 --> 02:53.015 [SPEAKER_01]: Show weakness or are experiencing hard times. 02:54.778 --> 03:04.191 [SPEAKER_01]: God's heart is to use us that we might show mercy and grace as a reflection of his unconditional love. 03:04.171 --> 03:13.543 [SPEAKER_01]: He's calling us to be light in the darkness that the world might see in us the compassion and heart of our Heavenly Father. 03:15.426 --> 03:34.110 [SPEAKER_01]: It's for this reason, Paul writes in Ephesians 4 verse 32, be kind to one another, tender-hearted for giving one another as God in Christ forgave you. 03:34.090 --> 03:45.150 [SPEAKER_01]: you can be kind because your father has been nothing but kind to you and you can be tender hearted because God was so tender and heart toward you. 03:45.190 --> 03:55.609 [SPEAKER_01]: He was so compassionate that he gave his life to free you, empower you, strengthen you and ground you in his grace and love. 03:57.277 --> 04:05.008 [SPEAKER_01]: take time and guided prayer to receive a fresh revelation of God's kindness, tenderness and forgiveness. 04:06.511 --> 04:10.737 [SPEAKER_01]: Open your heart and let him transform you to be more like him. 04:10.777 --> 04:27.081 [SPEAKER_01]: Allow his heart to become your own and live today in response to God's love by showing compassion to others that they might know the tenderness and mercy of your heavenly Father. 05:02.262 --> 05:09.149 [SPEAKER_01]: As we begin, meditate on God's heart of kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. 05:10.791 --> 05:26.667 [SPEAKER_01]: Luke 15, 20 says, and he arose and came to his father, but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 06:06.303 --> 06:19.047 [SPEAKER_01]: And next, take a moment to receive the love of God, open your heart to Him, and experience His kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. 06:57.991 --> 06:58.692 [SPEAKER_01]: and last. 06:59.854 --> 07:03.098 [SPEAKER_01]: Ask God to empower you to show compassion today. 07:04.380 --> 07:10.529 [SPEAKER_01]: Choose to live with your eyes not only set on your needs, but also on the needs of others. 07:12.332 --> 07:24.690 [SPEAKER_01]: First Peter 3-8 says, Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, Brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 07:29.817 --> 07:31.070 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 08:08.090 --> 08:14.582 [SPEAKER_01]: The only way we can live compassionately is by abiding in the love of our Heavenly Father. 08:14.623 --> 08:28.950 [SPEAKER_01]: First John 317 says, but if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 08:31.748 --> 08:50.415 [SPEAKER_01]: God's love transforms us, his heart empowers us to live differently, you can abide in the love of God today, you can live filled up with the knowledge of his grace and presence moment to moment and allow him to be your source. 08:50.395 --> 09:02.571 [SPEAKER_01]: Don't live as if you serve a distant God, live today in acknowledgment that He is closer to you than your breath, nearer to you than your own skin. 09:04.052 --> 09:09.700 [SPEAKER_01]: The Holy Spirit dwells within you and longs to empower you with His love today. 09:11.362 --> 09:20.233 [SPEAKER_01]: May you live compassionately today and see the lives of others impacted as you reflect 09:39.265 --> 09:42.090 [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for listening to today's devotional. 09:42.571 --> 09:44.354 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Josh Miller with For 15. 09:45.216 --> 09:50.826 [SPEAKER_01]: As you head out into the rest of your day, seek to maintain and open heart with others around you. 09:51.848 --> 10:01.746 [SPEAKER_01]: One of the most helpful realizations in having compassion for others is that we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions. 10:01.726 --> 10:07.264 [SPEAKER_01]: Try and see past the words and actions of others today to look at their heart. 10:07.926 --> 10:14.267 [SPEAKER_01]: And as you live openly today, allow the vision to the heart to produce compassion. 10:14.399 --> 10:23.679 [SPEAKER_01]: If you haven't already, make sure to follow the podcast and we would love it if you would leave a review and let us know how God is impacting your life through first esteem. 10:23.699 --> 10:30.673 [SPEAKER_01]: The other option as well is to send us an email at podcast at first15.org. 10:30.693 --> 10:35.243 [SPEAKER_01]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.