Fierce Compassion is simply seeing someone in the state they're in and doing something about it when they have a need. Sometimes that need is right there on the surface, sometimes the surface is not all as it seems.
From the definitions we read, fierce compassion: with bold, heartfelt, zeal, moved to do something... I just can’t fight this feeling anymore... :)
But for you timid out there: don't overcomplicate and shutdown with words like "bold" and "zeal"!
Becoming/Being a Neighbor requires us to feel, that includes rejoicing and mourning with those around us. Being open to them, even if it hurts, as Jesus did (Isaiah 53:2-6 Easy-to-Read)
Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 (MSG) - 3 Crying is better than laughing.
It blotches the face but it scours the heart. 4 Sages (wise of heart) invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.
Romans 12:9-21
Care -
Romans 12:15 (NIV) - 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:11 (NIV) - 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (fierce compassion)
Keep it simple -
Romans 12:18 (Easy-to-Read) - 18 Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:21 (Easy-to-Read) - 21 Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.
My prayer is that we will no longer shy away because it "hurts too much to care" and that we will continue to grow and mature, as God means for us to, and not think "it hurts too much to change". All while keeping it simple and becoming a neighbor!
1. When you considered yourself through this message did you find you've been making Being A Neighbor too complicated? How could you simplify?
2. Did your definition of compassion change or grow?
3. Share some of your thoughts on "It hurts too much to care" and/or "It hurts too much to change".
4. Share anything else that came alive to you! ( or anything that helps to wipe the lizard-look-face from you :D )
Oh Kevin how you brought out what so many of us have had to deal with in our lives--lazy evangelism...how easy it is to fall into that care only about what's going on in our own life and not see anyone else--I love how you put it as being a couch potato. Thank you for not wanting to be that anymore but wanting to be a neighbor to someone else. God has really been working in you and your wife and now you both have something to give out to someone else!
Thank you Rabbi Nate for a great word!
1.When you considered yourself through this message did you find you've been making Being A Neighbor too complicated? How could you simplify? Absolutely I have made it too complicated! For far too long I was one of the in the ditch on one side or the other people (talk about zealous in the wrong way!)--either praying for everything that moved whether they wanted it or not or had faith or not--to the not helping anybody unless I "knew" it was what God was saying (hear the religious voice in this text??). If I see a need and I can do something about it--help--that's pretty simple. I realize there are times when I…
1. When you considered yourself through this message did you find you've been making Being A Neighbor too complicated? How could you simplify? First and foremost, thank you Nate for delivering this word. I do believe I was making it more difficult than it needs to be. I think I have been looking for the “spectacular” instead of realizing that the miraculous is found in the midst of mourning, in the midst of day-to-day collisions with what is overwhelming in my neighbor’s life. Taking on the heart that looks for the simple life, a life that takes the time to mourn and rejoin with people, to take on a heart that finds God “with” them instead of trying to find God…
1. When you considered yourself through this message did you find you've been making Being A Neighbor too complicated? How could you simplify?
First steps first. The complication of trying to see how one action will cause someone to fully change their mind or is that a spectacular enough statement for someone to become a believer. Possibly then I may be dismissing the first steps.
2. Did your definition of compassion change or grow? The I care feeling comes from God and it is a good thing.
3. Share some of your thoughts on "It hurts too much to care" and/or "It hurts too much to change".
There is living in the hurting helping someone through the hurting moment…
When you considered yourself through this message did you find you’ve been making Being A Neighbor too complicated? How could you simplify? Yes, I have been making Being a Neighbor too complicated. I need not to make life so complicated. Just keep it simple and don’t over think it. Just do what God says in the moment.
Did your definition of compassion change or grow? I do see compassion differently. From the definition of compassion, being moved to do something. It means having to do something to help. Not being able to stop yourself from doing something to help. That is what I need, what we all need. I need this to be life in me.
Share some of your…