GDLC Audio

Our Lord is a long-suffering God who is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”. He shows us compassion because “We Belong to Jesus” and He shows us that compassion over and over again. We therefore are called to show compassion too...when someone sins against us. But we’re also called to show compassion no matter what. The hungry...the hurting...the homeless...the grieving...the lonely...the alone...the ___________...you insert in the blank whatever it is you’re seeing in others. All of that begs us to show them compassion, the compassion of Jesus. Today Jesus calls to us “Follow Me to Compassion”.

Our Lord is a long-suffering God who is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”. He shows us compassion because “We Belong to Jesus” and He shows us that compassion over and over again. We therefore are called to show compassion too...when someone sins against us. But we’re also called to show compassion no matter what. The hungry...the hurting...the homeless...the grieving...the lonely...the alone...the ___________...you insert in the blank whatever it is you’re seeing in others. All of that begs us to show them compassion, the compassion of Jesus. Today Jesus calls to us “Follow Me to Compassion”.

In many ways the idea of holiness is lost on our society and seen as archaic and unnecessary. Furthermore, the opposite is celebrated as the Bible would prophesy it in Isaiah “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). But as Christians, as a people who embrace the fact that “We Belong to Jesus” we live for Him and through Him and we do so in holiness and purity, that which is found in Him who lives through us by His Holy Spirit. Today we hear Jesus say “Follow Me to Holiness”.

As we consider the concept of “being patient with others” today, we’re really right where we were in the last message about “peace”. Our world is an impatient world. Our world is a “cancel culture” world. Rather than being patient with people, recognizing that the things that bother us about them are things that we do ourselves, we instead fly off the handle and, well, “cancel them”. Jesus calls us to give to others what He has given to us. He has show us patience...over and over again...and He calls to us today saying “Follow Me to Patience”.

As we consider the concept of “being patient with others” today, we’re really right where we were in the last message about “peace”. Our world is an impatient world. Our world is a “cancel culture” world. Rather than being patient with people, recognizing that the things that bother us about them are things that we do ourselves, we instead fly off the handle and, well, “cancel them”. Jesus calls us to give to others what He has given to us. He has show us patience...over and over again...and He calls to us today saying “Follow Me to Patience”.

This week’s focus is an interesting one because all of us want peace in our world but few of us do what it takes to bring peace. And this is particularly ironic and sad because “We Belong to Jesus” the Prince of Peace and so it’s a reminder that the Christian Church on earth is the only place where true peace can be found. Jesus is calling us today to be the conduit of peace in our lives every day. We are never, ever to stir up controversies, divisions or hate, but are to be bringers of the peace of the Gospel message as we obey our Lord as He whispers in our ear every day “Follow Me to Peace”.

One of the more amazing gifts connected to the fact that “We Belong to Jesus” is the gift of prayer. After all, we are allowed, invited, even expected to pray to God and seek His help, His guidance, His protection, His providence. God wants to talk to us and wants us to talk to Him...better said, to lean on Him, for all that we need. After all, “We Belong to Jesus” and as such are His sons and daughters and as His “kids” we’re deeply loved and cared for. He wants us to come to Him, sit on His lap and ask, seek and knock. Jesus calls us today saying, in every way and every day, “Follow Me to Prayer”.