COMPASSION FOR SINNERS

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When a Christian is persecuted, then prays to God and nothing seems to be happening to alleviate the situation, it could be quite frustrating especially when the person has examined his or her life to know whether there are issues making the Lord not to respond and cannot seem to come up with any.
 However, dear friend, let us examine God's Word in Hebrews 12:3-4, "For consider Him (Jesus) Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."
 Have you looked at this same issue from another angle, that the persecutor is heading to HELL unless he or she repents? This point of view should elicit compassion from the persecuted Christian if he or she is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ.
 Even though it is not an easy task, it is the direction our Lord Jesus wants us to follow. This is why Jesus says in Luke 6:28-29, "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either."
 Is our Lord Jesus Christ encouraging stealing here? The answer is no. What Jesus is saying is that our reaction to negative circumstances caused directly by others should not elicit a similarly negative reaction from us but rather we should look at it with the eyes of compassion for the sinner who caused the problem.
 So many Christians are simply unable to do this because they believe a sinner must be punished especially when the evil deed is against a Christian. No doubt, for every sin we commit, it is recorded in heaven and the sinner is bound to receive a just punishment from God our Father Almighty unless he or she repents sincerely.
 However, let us also recollect as Christians that at some point in our past life, we committed terrible sins such that if Jesus as a Righteous Judge were to treat us the way we deserve, majority of us should by now be languishing in HELL for all eternity.
 But Jesus did not and still does not treat us that way, so why should we expect Him to treat current sinners (potential saints if repented) the same way?
 Compassion is a virtue given by God by the power of His Holy Spirit that enables us to see persecution from God's view point and which would then drive us to pray for the sinner for God's mercy on him or her.
 Dear friend, let us realize that God's Word in the Holy Bible and by revelation is final and we cannot change it no matter how we feel in our hearts. God's Word is driven by His immense and immeasurable love for us because God is love.
 What we should rather focus on doing is work towards entering heaven when we exit this world (Philippians 2:12) and the way to do that is to prayerfully study God's Word in the Holy Bible and ask God to give you the grace of compassion so you can extend it to others who are heading to HELL in a sinful and darkened world.
 A Christian who is able to do this has matured in faith and no doubt, Jesus would use such person powerfully to reach out to others using the Gospel and confirming His Word in the Holy Bible with mighty signs and wonders.
 Jesus is always ready to receive us and to help us grow spiritually and in all other aspects of our lives to maturity. Are you ready to give your life to Jesus ad obey all His commands? Today and NOW, is the moment of decision, for tomorrow or later may be too late.
 May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.
 Gabriel Ama.

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