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Devotions of Encouragement

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Devotions of Encouragement

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Articles of Faith
Article 1. Article 2. Article 3. Article 4.

We believe in one only true and living God, and that there are three in the God-Head – the Father, the son and Holy Ghost. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and the only rule of faith and practice. We believe that God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world; that they should be holy and without blame before Him in love. We believ

e in the doctrine of original sin and man’s impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in by nature. Article 5. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Article 6. We believe that God’s elect shall be called effectively, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and shall persevere in grace and never finally fall away. Article 7. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and to be practiced by His faithful children. Article 8. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and a general judgment and that punishment of the wicked will be everlasting, and the joys of the righteous will be eternal. Article 9. We believe that ministers of the Gospel are called by God to minister to those in need with love and encouragement. Article 10. We believe that God hath ordained good works; that His children should walk in them, and that good works are only such as God has commanded in His Word

09/06/2026

Heavy Weights
A young man once mockingly asked the preacher-“You say that unsaved people carry a great weight of sin. Frankly, I feel nothing. How heavy is sin? Ten, Fifty, eighty, one hundred pounds?”
The preacher thought about it for a moment and gently replied- “If you laid a four hundred pound weight on a co**se, would it feel the load?”
The young man was quick to say- “Of course not, it’s dead.”
The preacher replied- “The person who doesn’t know Christ is equally dead and though the load is great, they feel none of it.”
Proclaiming the good news of the Gospel to all is not only something we should want to do, but is a great blessing and responsibility we as believers are to perform to glorify God in our own personal lives. It does come with a caveat-all that hear may not immediately respond to the word and if they do, it may be a negative response of sorts.
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The cross carries no meaning for someone that only cares for the desires of the flesh. Expecting a lost sinner to heed the gospel, care about eternity, give thought to anything/anybody else but themselves would be like expecting a dead co**se to feel a load of weight pressing down. No, the lost person who are slaves to sin cannot feel, see, nor understand the need for the goodness of God but amazingly, those who are awaken by the Holy Spirit know that the cross that Jesus died on for our sins is the demonstration of the power of God and His magnificent saving grace for His born again children. Yes, we take great joy and consider it the greatest miracle known to man.
John 14:6 KJV
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
God’s born again children understand that Jesus is the only way to God and that without Him we are not able to come to God and the eternal life He holds. We not only understand that Jesus is the way, but that by Him we have access to God and His greatness.
The lost that do not believe that fact as stated in the Gospel before their time in the flesh is over will not be able to see God or be able to experience a joy filled eternal life in Heaven in God’s presence. No, God will declare He never knew them (Matthew 7:23).
John 6:44 KJV
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This isn’t some sort of complicated conundrum. Lost man not only cannot see the things of God but will not want to come to Christ unless God draws them with His motivation. Only His spiritual quickening can make us alive and able to look for His righteousness. Only God can open our spiritual eyes to see the great gift Jesus offers to us and realize how much we are in need of it.
Thank God for his free gift of Christ. Thank God that Christ carries the heavy burden of sin that we are helpless against without Him. Thank God that He draws His children to Him and loves us even before we loved Him.
Praying that God’s born again children share the good news to everyone without bias and that all come to hear, understand, and respect the power of the good news in the Gospel and receive Christ as their Savior.

08/30/2026

Angry Response-Good or Bad?
Lincoln wrote a letter to General George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, which he ultimately did not send. In this unsent letter, Lincoln expressed his disappointment with Meade's failure to pursue and potentially destroy Robert E. Lee's army after their retreat following the Union victory at Gettysburg.
The letter, described as a "hot letter" by Lincoln's biographers, was a common coping mechanism for the President when dealing with anger or frustration. He would write out his feelings, set the letter aside until his emotions cooled, and then often label it "Never sent. Never signed."
In the unsent letter to Meade, Lincoln wrote, "I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our other late successes, have ended the war. As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely".
The decision not to send the letter to Meade, like other similar instances, likely resulted from Lincoln's understanding that his words, while offering personal relief, could have a demoralizing effect on the general, potentially hindering future military efforts. IN other words, Lincoln put his feelings aside knowing venting them would have no edifying effect.
Ephesians 3 KJV
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.

Two things to take away from this verse when considering anger that is often misunderstood and mistaught in our society-
1. Do not let our anger get such a hold on us that we are tempted to do something we shouldn’t do.
2. Allow yourself to be angry because anger isn’t the sin, as society often tries to portray it to be, but it’s how it is handled that becomes the problem.
So, let’s start with how to control our anger.
The first step that would benefit everyone that is angry would be to ask themselves in the heat of the moment one good question followed by a genuinely honest answer-
“Why am I so angry?”
That answer could be a number of things. Maybe someone did something to us they shouldn’t have? Or, and this one happens more often than many other reasons, is there some issue in my past I have not dealt with and all this anger that is coming out towards another person is undue?
Repressed anger from earlier events in life must be dealt with or it will stunt our emotional growth and cause problems when relating to others. Often, it takes a good bit of study to gain perspective. Sometimes the anger can go as far back as early childhood and may concern overbearing parents, overly competitive siblings, or some horrible wrong done to us at a time we just couldn’t understand how to file it in our mind so as to move on. Either way, understanding events in our past is often key to controlling our anger. Once we do, we may find a lot of anger we have towards others is undue and amplified by unresolved issues.
The second step when trying to control anger is admitting to ourselves that there are things we should be angry about and that those things motivate us to take action as needed. If someone is abusive to us, a defense of sorts is warranted. If someone is doing something horrible that hurts others, we may be in a position to help the helpless. If someone is committing an atrocious sin, we may find ourselves in the position to deal out much needed rebuke. After all, an angry Jesus ran the money changers out of the temple because of the disruption of their violation of the temple's sacred space and their exploitation of worshippers. He overturned the tables of the money changers, scattered their coins, and drove out both the merchants and the animals.
So, in conclusion, anger always comes for a reason and knowing that reason before reacting helps prevent unnecessary destruction and can motivate the proper action needed. There are times we should be angry and may need to take action and there are times we need to realize lashing out to feel good due to a particular action whether past or present isn’t the right thing to do.
Praying that all God’s children gain perspective on anger and avoid the temptation to sin that often accompanies it.

08/23/2026

Kicking Against the Goads
“Many are stubborn in their pursuit of the path they have chosen, but few are in pursuit of the goal.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
Acts 9 KJV
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks(goads).
Apparently, "to kick against the goads" was a common expression that rose from the practice of farmers goading their oxen in the fields. Though unfamiliar to us, everyone in that day understood its meaning. A goad is a spiked stick used for driving cattle.
Goads were typically made from slender pieces of timber, blunt on one end and pointed on the other. Farmers used the pointed end to urge a stubborn ox into motion. Occasionally, the beast would kick at the goad. The more the ox kicked, the more likely the goad would stab into the flesh of its leg, causing greater pain.
Saul’s conversion could appear to us as having been a sudden encounter with Christ. But based on the Lord's expression regarding his kicking back, I believe He’d been working on him for years, prodding and goading him.
I believe the words and works of Jesus haunted the zealous Pharisee. Quite likely, Saul had heard Jesus teach and preach in public places. Similar in age, they would have been contemporaries in a city Saul knew well and Jesus frequently visited.
Imagine Saul watching Jesus preach and teach all the while grudgingly wondering how this false prophet could be gaining popularity. Nonsense. He has to be of Satan! Pharisees loved to think that. Nevertheless, Jesus’s ministry stuck in Saul’s mind. The more it goaded him, the more he resisted God’s proddings.
Once you've seriously encountered Jesus, as Saul did, there's no escaping Him. His words and works follow you deep within your conscience. Things take on new meanings. Things once done in the past that don't align with obedience to God will jab our heart. The more we resist the more pain and discomfort we will experience. Surrendering our life to obedience is the only way peace and joy can be found. God's gentle correction is a great thing for those that believe and Paul went on to serve God preaching, writing, and establishing churches in His name. Once a murderer of Christians, Paul became a faithful servant of the Lord. People can change, God's active intervention in His children's life still happens today, and great things are in store for those that heed His call.
Prayers for God’s children to humbly submit themselves as Paul the chief of sinners ( 1 Timothy 1:15), stop resisting His driving Holy Spirit, and turn to Christ Jesus as their Savior.

08/16/2026

Are We Special?
Classic 10mm socket jokes-

I got 99 sockets, but a 10mm ain't one.
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle: You can know where the 10mm socket is, or you can use it, but you can never do both at the same time.
Why did the 10mm socket cross the road? To hide in the tall grass where nobody will ever find it again.

In the shop we make fun of the most elusive and hard to find tool a technician possesses-The 10 mm socket. It's probably one of the most often used, yet we have the toughest time keeping up with it. Jobs without a the 10mm socket are tough as many trim panels, small accessories, etc are held on with bolts it fits. So, when technicians do find a 10mm socket that's been lost, a celebration occurs as if it is a special occasion. LOL
This brings to question-
Are we special? Does God look at each of us as special creatures and want us to be unified with Him?
Luke 15:1-7 KJV holds the answer-
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a well-known story told by Jesus. A shepherd leaves his ninety-nine sheep in the open field to search for the one that is lost. When he finds it, he places it on his shoulders with joy, brings it home, and celebrates with his friends and neighbors.
Point of the parable-
God's Love: God cares deeply for every single person and reaches out to each of His children individually. Romans 5:8
Active Pursuit: God goes out of His way to look for people who wander off and is not willing that any should perish and remain lost.
2 Peter 3:9
Great Joy: There is great celebration in Heaven when a lost person turns back to God. Luke 15:7
Praise be to God that He values each of us special and searches for the unity designed before the foundation of the world!

08/09/2026

The Ferris Wheel of Faith
In 1893, engineer George Ferris built a machine that bears his name—the Ferris wheel. When it was finished, he invited a newspaper reporter to accompany him and his wife for the inaugural ride. It was a windy July day, so a stiff breeze struck the wheel with great force as it slowly began its rotation. Despite the wind, the wheel turned flawlessly. After one revolution, Ferris called for the machine to be stopped so that he, his wife, and the reporter could step out. In braving that one revolution on the windblown Ferris wheel, each occupant demonstrated genuine faith. Mr. Ferris began with the scientific knowledge that the machine would work and that it would be safe. Mrs. Ferris and the reporter believed the machine would work on the basis of what the inventor had said. But only after the ride could it be said of all three that they had personal, experiential faith.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Being aware of a great design is great but actually experiencing the workings of it, as we see with the Ferris wheel ride, can often bring great joy and acceptance.
Riding the ferris wheel of faith is a ride that should be experienced. Life more abundantly comes by Christ. He's our savior and loves unconditionally. He came down to Earth through a pure virgin birth untainted by the disease of sin. He loved others all of the days of His earthly ministry. He sacrificed His life on the cross, experienced the death we deserve, was resurrected and lives at the right hand of the Father. He will return and gather those that believe and received His great forgiveness of sins. God's children that believe will all gather in Heaven soon and rejoice for all of eternity.
Thanks to the Great Inventor for His great mercy and forgiveness in Christ, the author and finisher of our faith!

08/02/2026

Cause and Effect Thinking
The other day, a friend told me he wasn’t getting enough sleep and he wished that danged old Rooster in his neighbor’s back yard would shut up so the sun wouldn’t come up so soon every morning. LOL
It was a joke and maybe a bad one at that, but it is a good example of what the message is about this morning. The rooster crows just before the sun comes up due to it’s own circadian rhythm and the sun is in no way waiting to hear it’s crow so it can pop up on the horizon. LOL
We won’t go over the mechanics of sunrise but will point out that from a certain perspective it could seem like the sun’s appearance is caused by the Rooster rather than being powered by another force entirely. The crowing rooster story is a good illustration of just one of many things that our senses could misinterpret and label incorrectly.
Hebrews 11:3 KJV
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Cause and effect thinking is something we naturally do but due to our human limitations, things can be misinterpreted and cause some pretty wonky beliefs about how certain things work. After all, even the most educated person comes up short. There’s no way to know everything that is known and there’s no way to know the things that aren’t known yet either.
By definition-A cause is an action, and the effect is the resulting reaction.
Of course, we are to study and follow true science in attempt to discover certain cause and effects, but what about spiritually? We have historical records and Biblical accounts of many people

throughout history that often made false gods due to improper cause and effect thinking. We know of one culture that worshipped the Sun. The Israelites worshipped a golden calf. Modern times bring new gods. Materialism, popularity, power, money, and even self. Even true science has been twisted into pushing theories that are unsubstantiated rather than presenting truth they know of and admitting their ignorance on the vast unknown. Science so far has identified that the universe was created by one single source but has not been able to identify said source. Yet many claim their studies somehow prove no God exists. My opinion-If you’re ignorant in certain matters, and we all are, just admit it. Pride is a huge fence knowledge has a tough time getting over.
As far as spiritual enlightenment and growing of our faith and knowledge of God and His work, perspective and study on those things as written about in the Bible can be healthy. Our spiritual beliefs should be compared to and weighed with the inspired word of God. It is human to get cause and effect mixed up and give other things besides God the credit for causing certain things. Our senses do not have a perfect perception of reality. Without a ruler to measure our beliefs against, we might go to extremes in certain areas. We might veer away from God’s truth.

Praying that all God’s children study the truth God offers an account of in the Bible, study the great work He’s done in Christ our Savior,
and take notice of the great works He has and is doing in the world around us.

07/26/2026

Magnetic Properties
Trivia tidbit-
The strongest magnet in the world is the famous 45 Tesla Hybrid Magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. It stands 22-feet tall and weighs 34 tons and generates 45 tesla (450,000 to nearly a million times stronger than Earth's natural magnetic field).
Magnets are used to lift and pull incredibly heavy objects, create electricity, and many other great things. Being an auto repair tech, the one use for magnets that I often see is to attract pieces/shavings of metal released from gears and bearings in transmissions, differentials, and transfer cases. One or two magnets in the bottom can draw and capture most all the loose metal in the circulating fluid that passes by and prevent unnecessary wear due to friction from said metallic particles finding their way into bearings, bushings, gears, etc.
These magnets, when inspected during fluid changes or repairs, are generally covered up with shiny metal that gets cleaned away so as to make room for more. It’s an amazing thing, really, seeing ferromagnetic materials drawn to and safely caught by another ferromagnetic material knowing that if the process didn’t occur there would be grinding and cutting of machined surfaces that would lead to a high dollar component failure.
Yes, I said it-The drawing of a substance similar to the drawing substance is very interesting. LOL I suppose I am easily entertained.
Point comes to mind-
God draws the spirit filled child of God to Himself. Sounds kind of like a strange conundrum, doesn’t it? But it is true-

John 6 KJV
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Main take aways-
The Father Draws: People come to Jesus because God draws and teaches them.
Taught by God: Those who listen and learn from the Father turn to Jesus.
Seen by the Son: Only Jesus has truly seen the Father.
Eternal Life: Everyone who believes in Jesus has everlasting life.

Praise God for his rich mercy. He reaches down to a dying and lost creature and compels them with His magnetic love manifested in the Holy Spirit to see the light of truth and receive Christ as their Savior. So loving and so merciful that, even though we first chose to turn and rebel against Him, freely gives those that believe in Christ everlasting life.
The take away from all this is-
The lost sinner realizes in their heart that annihilation is certain and
the path they’ve followed is really pointless in the grand scheme of
things should and must follow the drawing power of God and yield to their heart’s desire to come closer to Him and know more about
Him. In short, they should follow the compelling motivation that
seems strange and unknown so as to repent and receive Christ into
their life knowing it’s the only path that leads to eternal joy and
peace.
The already born again child of God can find great comfort in
knowing God has drawn them to Salvation and they, who are equals with all lost in sin, are blessed to know and experience God’s great love manifested in their lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.
In short-Acceptance, Joy, Peace, Relief, and the Knowledge that God loves all His children and doesn’t want none to suffer or perish.
Praying that all God’s children not only experience His great drawing that relieves them from the mechanical grinding wear of sin, but they also embrace it and love it for the great gift it is in Christ.

07/19/2026

Common Courtesy
"LOL" has officially become a common courtesy. If a friend texts you a joke, do you really laugh out loud? No, you don't. At this point, "LOL" just means, "I have received your text and I am acknowledging your existence."- Texting & Modern Etiquette
We hear it all the time and may say it ourselves-“There’s a shortage of common courtesy in the world today.” It often comes to mind when driving and Athens GA will bring it to mind quickly. Of course, courtesy is not only needed on the highway, we need it everywhere-the grocery stores, work, school, church, and everywhere we go. More often than not, courtesy has to begin with us and will blossom to a flowering attitude among those we are around. Whether others return courteous behavior or not, we are to be courteous ourselves and continue to behave in a way that would be glorifying to God and set good examples to those around us.
Courtesy begins with a selfless and humble heart that loves and wants the best for others with nothing in return.
Philippians 2
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Being considerate of others means having consideration in your mind and heart for them. Simply put, it means considering them in your actions and plans.
To be considerate, we first must not judge if others are worth considering. Why? Because Christ didn’t entertain that thought when sacrificing himself for us. The King of kings valued us more than He did himself. He gave selflessly while here on Earth, even until His ultimate sacrifice at Calvary. His interests took a back seat and He put God’s children’s interests up front and first. We are to do the same the entire time we are here on Earth until that great day Christ returns.
That might mean sacrificing a little time when driving on the highway and we feel someone gets in our way. It might mean allowing someone to cut us off when walking down a grocery store aisle, even when we felt we had the right of way. It might mean helping those in need and going through tough times, even when we disagreed with the decisions that got them there in the first place. It might even mean being kind to those that aren’t kind to us and exercising the empathy that under similar circumstances we just might humanly behave the same way.
No matter the action rooted in consideration, it must start with the ability to put one’s own needs behind those of others. This takes humility, self control, prayer, and faith in God and the designed benefits to those that attempt to glorify Him in His service.
The results of being considerate? There may not be any obvious gain. We may not get a “thank you” or a pat on the back, but God’s children that seek to glorify the Father will receive the blessings of a good and faithful servant that has done well (Matthew 25:21).
Praying God’s children make a blossoming contribution to the courtesy of the world that’s rooted in their faith in Christ.

07/12/2026

The Reason for the Journey
"Losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But, losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel." -H. G. Wells
Sometimes I think I have ADD. Other times, I feel I'm just a little out of shape mentally and try and read more to help myself gain focus. Either way, focusing on the main goal through to the end has always been a challenge that requires constant effort for me.
Glorifying God is most definitely one of those goals that require constant work and realignment.
1 Peter 4:10–11 KJV
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

The New Testament clearly exhorts us to glorify God in all of our conduct, especially that which builds up the church, the body of Christ. The pattern seems to be this: As we believe in Christ to the glory of God and declare his glory in our worship, grateful obedience in all of life flows forth from us unto God’s glory.
Peter encourages us to use whatever gift we have, with all the strength God gives, to serve others. We can read in the previous verses that he commands his readers to love each other and to be hospitable to one another (1 Pet. 4:8–9). God is glorified by our wholehearted service to others.
If we accept the importance of using our God given talents to serve others, we would have to also accept the importance of developing that talent to it's fullest potential. Education, experience, studious preparation all becomes a great part of glorifying God when looking at the importance of using our talent to benefit those of society.
After realizing the importance of talent development, God's child must realize the importance of mental and physical health in glorifying God with good use of our talents. Proper diet, exercise, and emotional coping skills become more important in the full picture when looked at under proper light.
When thinking of these developmental and maintenance components of talents for glorifying God, the quote given by Abraham Lincoln comes to mind: “If I only had an hour to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my axe.”
Glorifying God through service isn't always easy, as read later in the book of Peter where Peter the author goes on immediately to encourage in their “fiery ordeal” and in suffering insults for Christ’s sake (1 Pet. 4:12–16). Because the Spirit of glory rests upon us (1 Pet. 4:14), we may rejoice as we participate in Christ’s sufferings (1 Pet. 4:13), and may glorify God that we bear the name “Christian” (1 Pet. 4:16).
We will suffer in the flesh and we will suffer persecution from others, but we can rejoice in spirit that we are joined in Christ and glorifying God with our lives. After all is said and done, that is the Child of God's purpose in life and if we can stay focused on just that until the very end of our time here on Earth, we will experience a joy this world does not know.

07/05/2026

Fragile-Handle with Care
The package was on the door step was beat up and corners torn. Upon opening, pieces of the unassembled cabinet were split, cracked, and broken. Attaching hardware was missing. The journey from the distribution center had not been kind. It was obvious that the handle with care instructions written on the outside had been somewhat ignored. What a waste. So much destruction could have been avoided with just a little tender loving care but for some reason it seemed this package fell a little low on the care scale for those handling it and was tossed around as if value didn’t matter.
This sort of thing brings the parable of the good Samaritan to mind.
Jesus tells the story in Luke 10 KJV-
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and w**e, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Compassion and love for others should extend to all people no matter how we feel about them. We should have compassion, no matter how we feel we are positioned in society at the moment or how the other person is positioned. We are all God’s creation and valuable in our own special way. Valuable to society and valuable to Him. He wants us to use care when handling each other. Care that reflects the value involved. Tenderness of heart is key and trying to deal with unfruitful animosity that pops up is glorifying to God and edifying to the body of Christ we all should be part of.
Having the love of Christ in our hearts is paramount because love only has one source-God. Praying that all God’s children handle each other with care and show love and compassion to one another.

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