Category Archives: Compassion

God’s Heart Exposed

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The 10-minute podcast at the end of this article is called: “But God…”
David was at that point in life where he was dreaming great dreams for his kids. He had killed his giants and conquered his kingdoms. That restless need to succeed no longer gnawed at him. When you’re older it’s easier to live vicariously, through your kids. Doesn’t take as much energy.

That’s why the news that day of war shocked him. He’d guessed it when he saw the second runner. The first runner came with a drive and a certain gait that could only belong to Ahimaaz, the priest’s son. That would be good news. General Joab wouldn’t send someone from an important family with bad news.

But it was that second runner that worried him. He hardly heard Ahimaaz’ breathless proclamation of an overwhelming victory against the massive rebel hordes. His life and kingdom were saved? “Good, but what about Absalom my son?”

Funny reaction isn’t it? He should have been shouting for joy. David hadn’t been around his son Absalom much the last years. This angry young man had murdered his vulgar elder brother– the one probably destined for the throne by the way. Three years of banishment followed and even when he permitted his good-looking son to return David felt he must keep his distance to teach him a lesson.

Eventually the ambitious young man lead a treacherous army, seeking to overthrow his father. Lots and lots of heartbreak for David because he loved his son incredibly and many of the people on the other side of this fight had stabbed him in the back by joining with Absalom.

Lots of good sermons in the story of this rebellion. Let’s see. “David Reaps What He Sows!” God’s Word comes true as misery rises up from David’s own family to punish him for his horrible sin against Uriah the Hittite. Or how about, “The Perils of Spoiling Kids!” The fellow who dotted the eyes of the giant was a big pushover when it came to disciplining his own children.

Even with Absalom, there’s good preaching everywhere, “Pride Precedes A Fall–Again!” Or, (for bald-headed preachers), “Get That Hair Cut Or You Might End Up Dangling From A Tree!” How about, “The Final Resting Place of Politicians”? No, scratch that last one.

What stands out here is something else, though. General Joab didn’t understand it, nor did David’s army. Try this sermon title, “God’s Broken Heart For the Rebel.” David faced proud Absalom. He really didn’t seem awfully surprised when the rebellion broke out. Not a lot gets past the king and he wasn’t stupid. He knew which way the political winds blew in his country.

But he couldn’t forget that little boy whose eyes shone with a certain light when people talked about his dad’s great victories. David knew how it felt to squeeze that little guy in a close embrace and feel the love that only a parent can have for his child.

He watched the teenager grow, develop muscles, then a shy but handsome smile. The great king thrilled as his son shed his skin of childhood and walked the first faltering steps of a man. Oh, how David had dreamed for this fellow! What could have been, burned deeply in his heart that tragic day when the slow faithful messenger chimed out the news of Absalom’s death by Joab’s hand.

“O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you–O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Sam. 18:33b). Willful, self-centered Joab couldn’t understand a love like that but I know someone who could.

The panorama of the city struck the young man once again, hit him right in the stomach. He stopped and looked from his position high over the stubborn, rebellious place. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you!.” he sighed as big salty tears spilled out of his heart. “But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”(Luke 19:42-44, The Message)

It hurts when someone you love hates you. It hurt David. It made Jesus cry.

Even now, it seems like I hear a big sigh from heaven’s throne from time to time as He looks down on men He loves so much—rebellious men who refuse to own Him as King.

I wonder if He still cries.

________________
Hmmm…

‘‘We’ve got to get under those things that God has placed over us so we can get over those things God has placed beneath us.” (Adrian Rogers speaking about authority)

The Tears of a Clown

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This weeks podcast, at the bottom of this article, is called, “Romance!”

The phrase, “The Tears of a Clown” came to mind recently and ever since I’ve wanted to write a Coffee Stain about it. I don’t know why, but the power of the contrast in those words touched me.

The only problem is, I couldn’t really think of a spiritual application. Like any good pastor looking for a sermon to go with his great illustration, I didn’t let that stop me. I even found a “Tears of A Clown” scripture.

“Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and joy may end in grief.” Prov. 14:13 (NIV)

A little research revealed that “Tears of a Clown” was a number one hit in 1970 by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (that information didn’t actually advance my search for a spiritual application very much).

Part of the lyrics whine, “…you’re gone and I’m hurting so bad, like a clown I pretend to be glad. Now there’s some sad things known to man but ain’t too much sadder than the tears of a clown, when there’s no one around…” Smokey Robinson words/Stevie Wonder music.

Should I pass the crying towel?

You can’t always tell what’s behind a smiley face can you? Some 80 years ago Rudolph Krb, a German clown who for many years had delighted children all over Europe, put a gun to his head and blew his brains out. He had abandoned clowning when cancer marred his face and he found it increasing difficult to make ends meet in post World War I Germany.

“Even in laughter the heart may ache…”

Everyone Feels Pain

Sometimes we ignore people’s hurts because we can’t imagine they would have pain. The rich man mustn’t weep because his money takes care of him. The pastor’s wife must never feel loneliness, because she’s so spiritual. That friend at church who has it all together and is constantly laughing and encouraging others? He never cries does he?

Of course he does. Of course they do. And God puts us here to respond to pain and suffering because when we hurt, He hurts. He wants us to be His hands extended to a suffering world. Look around. Even if she seems like she got everything together—who knows what’s behind the make-up?

So what can I do to help?

Be sensitive to the Spirit and He will often tell you when someone is hurting. Once Jesus noticed a blind beggar sitting by the road. Most people never paid any attention to him. Blind beggars in the Jerusalem of that time were part of the furniture, so numerous that usually you didn’t even notice them much. Sometimes you woke up and pitched a couple of coins into their cup. Helped the conscience.
Jesus saw him though. He SAW him. To those who criticized his Sabbath day healing Jesus responded,

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19, 20 NIV).

He was sensitive to people’s needs and when the Father said, “Get involved!” He did it without question.

We can also pray faithfully for our tearful clowns. When everything gets tallied up in heaven, we’re going to be amazed at the difference our prayers made (and maybe frustrated to see what a difference our lack of prayer made in a negative sense).

Encourage those who hurt. Listen to them. Share what God’s Word says but in a sensitive, caring way. Often we whip out our standard scriptures at tear time without even thinking. It doesn’t come from the heart, but from some religious library in our head. “Here’s what you’re supposed to say to the family when someone dies. Here’s the response when someone loses his job. Here’s a scripture for when …”

That can come off sounding plastic instead of real.

Make yourself available and actively enter that person’s life. Don’t become his crutch or he will never get well. He has to learn to walk again after the tears are gone, but be there to steady him and exhort him when he wants to sit down and stop.

Be aware spiritually. The Lord Jesus looks for people to dry clown tears.

Snake Eyes

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Mr. Spock’s pointed ears perked slightly as he flashed a quizzical look at Captain Kirk, standing next to him, phaser drawn. “Captain?” Spock questioned. “Just hold steady Spock. We don’t know what this is.”

The weird creature that had materialized on the flight deck of the starship didn’t remind them of anything they had ever seen in their long years of space exploration. Squat and husky, he had a heavy coat of fur, legs like a man but his head resembled that of a buffalo. Heavy horns turned downward over each of his ears.

What struck the two friends were his eyes. The creature had extendable eyes that slid out of his head like long snakes, then turned to looked in all directions. He eyed Kirk and Spock curiously, then without moving his head his eyes began to bend in all directions. When they bent back and he saw himself, he started and shrieked, then his suspended eyes began moved closer to get a better look.

Old Scotty had beamed up a strange creature.

Eyes like that might come in handy though. For instance, who is the only person you know who has never seen your face? It’s you! You may have seen your reflection in the mirror but even that is backward. If you’ve seen your own face you’ve got some strange eyes. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had peepers that protruded like our alien buddy and we could see in every direction?

No.

Extendable Eyes

We Christians sometimes live as if we had extendable eyes. Our focus is constantly on our needs, our sins, our hurts, our desires, our vision, our plans, our … We have a hard time seeing the rest of the world because we are constantly using a magnifying glass to look at ourselves in detail.

“Oh, is that a pimple? No! And there…that spot? Maybe cancer? Look at all those gray hairs…even the nose hair is getting gray! You could use a shave old buddy. And that wrinkle! I wonder if it’s a sin to get a face-lift?”

The Lord Jesus wasn’t like that. He didn’t seem to worry too much about Himself but He was always on the lookout for people that His Father wanted to touch.

Once when Jesus and His disciples really needed a rest, they thought they would slip off to a quiet place on the other side the lake for a little R & R. But someone spotted Him and when they got to the rest get-away there was a huge crowd waiting on Him.

I would have been m.a.d.! How would you feel if you arrived at your vacation spot and there was your boss waiting for you with a suitcase full of work ?

But Jesus, when He saw that large crowd, “…He had compassion on them.” (Mark 6:32). He taught them and fed them without complaining because His heart went out to them when he felt their needs.

Another time he passed near a blind man and “saw” him (John 9:1). How many times had people passed near this hurting man? They saw him but they didn’t “see” him. Jesus saw past the ordinary to a heart that longed for healing, a heart open and hungry for God’s work. He stopped in his tracks and healed him.

Do you want to be miserable? Spend your days thinking about your problems, your sins, your worries, your dreams, you, you, you!

Do you want to be fulfilled? Lift up your eyes and see the Lord and be filled with His power. Look up and see the needs of those around you. With the power that God gave you go to these people and begin to make a change in their lives. It will revolutionize you.

Introspection is necessary and when our eyes look deeply into our souls by the Spirit’s help we can make needed changes. But when we constantly look at ourselves we become like the legendary Narcissus who fell in love with his own image!

Lord, give us eyes that see the needs of others, a heart that powerfully feels that need, and feet that run to help that person in need.