Nougat 24

We all know by now that The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Love (Galatians 5:22), but have we considered that it is The Gift that undergirds Compassion? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.” Colossians‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Compassion is understood as grasping the emotional aspect of someone’s experience and being willing to help change their circumstances. And yes, it it possible for us to help others without loving them and it is equally possible to love without opting to help. But I believe that the kind of Love described here is a combination of both and takes Love to concrete transformational action.

Many persons are familiar with Mother (Saint) Theresa who left her home in Albania and dedicated her life to meeting the needs of the poor and dying in Kolkata, India. While some question her motives (perhaps with just cause), it is believed that she began with a clear sense that this was a divine calling. And it could have been; for God has called some of us to love in such a manner.

Unfortunately where there is war, rape becomes a staple byproduct; and the Democratic Republic of Congo was not spared. But just as judges appeared in Israel in their formative years, Dr Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist, was also moved by God’s Spirit to assist the many Congolese girls and women survivors of rape and sexual abuse. He is a Pentecostal pastor. Living his faith so publicly has resulted in assassination attempts; but this has not stopped his zeal to get justice on behalf of the women or to provide medical care for survivors of rape. This, I believe, gives us a grasp on compassion born of God.

Closer to home, a young Jamaican couple, Mikey and Sofi have established the New Horizons Vocational Centre, because of the compassion God has given them for the unemployed. Through their ministry, young men and women gain much-needed skills that facilitate self-employment or working in specialized industries.They are not Nobel prize winners, but they are unapologetic believers in Christ. And they have often said that it is God Who calls them and equips them to do what they do for others.

There are countless others, several who are members of this group of readers, consistently moving by God’s Spirit to love others to all God has called them to be. It may be one word, one moment, one person; what makes it come to pass is our yieldedness to God’s Spirit and a desire to love and live beyond ourselves for the glory of God.

I pray that each of us will realize that we have been personally gifted BY God’s Spirit to love others; especially in these times. And, having discerned How to operate in that lLove, to do so without fear or favor.

God bless us all.

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May all we seek be found in Christ