Welcome to Thursday’s PoG BLOG! Today’s reading is from Colossians 4:2-6

^"2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  ⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

The theme for this week is  “Compassion with a Cause.”  I have pondered the “gut-wrenching” story Pastor shared on Sunday about the time he and his friends went swimming in the stock pond on their farm.   He was having a party and somehow they “accidentally” ended up going swimming in the pond without permission.  Later that day, his father was digging post holes – and being a man of few words – stopped digging long enough to say to his son, “I guess there will be no more parties for you.”    Later that night, Delton timidly peers down the hall to his dad who was at the table eating his nightly bowl of cereal and quietly says, “Goodnight Dad.”   His dad simply raised up his hands, and said, “Come here, D!”  And Delton runs into his father’s arms.

I have heard this story many times.  Yet, each time he tells it, I cry buckets of tears! Why does that story make me cry every single time?

I think I cry out of relief and unbelievable response to undeserved grace???   I was so sure that the ending was going to be tragic.  I was afraid of the horrible damage that was going to happen between Delton and his dad.  Indeed, Delton was punished for his disobedience – no more parties.  But the night could have ended so horribly.  His father could have refused to look him in the eye.  He could have turned his face away from his son.  He could have “made him pay” by sending him to his room and removing his favor from his son.  He could have…..  he could have…. He could have…..

But instead, he held out his hands and invited Delton into his arms!   Oh, the undeserved compassion!  Oh, the undeserved grace!  Oh, the unconditional love!  Now, if an earthly father has that ability to show gut-wrenching compassion ---  oh, how much more our Heavenly Father  shows His naughty, rebellious children over and over and over His amazing gut-wrenching compassion!

The other application rolling in my head from Sunday’s Scripture is in Matthew 9:36-37 “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’”   I loved the explanation offered concerning these verses.  Jesus looked on those people, whose lives were a mess, who were suffering many ways, and His heart broke!  And that’s when He exclaims that the harvest is plentiful!

When a harvest is “ready” – we say it is “ripe.”  There are times when the peaches are “just right” for picking.  There is a window of opportunity to harvest wheat.  Cut it too early – and it’s not going to be a good crop.  Wait too late, and it will fall over on itself and be impossible to combine.

So too, there are times in a person’s life when they are “ripe” for harvest!  There are moments  when everything is falling apart  - when health fails, when unemployment has stretched to 18 months, when a divorce seems like the only way out of a marriage – when there is no hope.  Interestingly enough – it is at these points in life when a person is “ripe” for harvest -the perfect time for them to receive the hope and gut-wrenching compassion that the Savior has for them!

What are You  saying to me today, God?

^"2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  ⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

I want to be devoted in prayer, and be watchful and thankful when I come across people who are hurting and in need.  I want  to pray that God will open a door for me to proclaim the mystery of Christ – and to proclaim it clearly – to make the most of every opportunity - about His amazing love and compassion for them – and about the Hope that can be theirs with Jesus Christ even though they are going through horrendous circumstances.  I want to be wise in the way I act toward outsiders and make the most of every opportunity.

I need to let my conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer everyone.  I long to show the same gut-wrenching compassion to others  that I have been shown.  I need to remember the tender compassion Delton’s father showed him – to remember why it brings me to tears – and to remember to show this same sweet compassion to others when they are down and out and when they are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Can you think back to times in your life when you were at such a low point?  Was that a time when you were “ripe” for the message of His love and compassion and grace?

Do you know anyone who is “harassed and helpless like a sheep without a shepherd?” Perhaps God is calling you to take notice – and to see that the harvest is ready – maybe that person is “ripe” to hear about the Hope you have in Christ your Savior.

We would love to hear your thoughts about this Scripture and perhaps what God has been teaching you this week. Have a great day!

-dawn