REFLECTING GOD ~ DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY LIVING "God Calls for Compassion" FOR SATURDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2014 ~ SCRIPTURE Obadiah 1

REFLECTING GOD ~ DEVOTIONS FOR HOLY LIVING "God Calls for Compassion" FOR SATURDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2014 ~ SCRIPTURE Obadiah 1:8 “Won’t I in that day”, says Yahweh, “destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau? 9 Your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter. 10 For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them. 12 But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. 13 Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity. 14 Don’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain in the day of distress.
God Calls for Compassion BY Richard H. Neiderhiser
In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley are partners in a financial firm about to be foreclosed. The two of them could have stepped in to help their boss, Mr. Jorkin, save the company. Instead, they waited with folded arms and wispy grins, gloating as Jorkin finally reveals that the company is insolvent. Ultimately Scrooge and Marley use their own resources to buy up 51 percent of the company. Jorkin is out, Scrooge and Marley are in. They have taken advantage of a friend in trouble.
Challenge to Holy Living
Obadiah and the apostle Paul had similar perspectives regarding how God viewed things and how His people ought to treat each other. Obadiah’s message from God for Edom regarded the way they treated Judah when Judah was being destroyed (v. 12). Paul’s message from God, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects” (1 Cor. 13:6-7a).
How often the love and support of a Christian brother or sister could make a change in someone’s life outcomes; a kind word, supportive action, a positive and friendly smile, a helping hand, and, sometimes, a few shekels to see them through a financial tight place.
"All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord" by Charles Wesley
1. All praise to our redeeming Lord, 
who joins us by his grace, 
and bids us, each to each restored, 
together seek his face. 
2. He bids us build each other up; 
and, gathered into one, 
to our high calling's glorious hope 
we hand in hand go on. 
3. The gift which he on one bestows, 
we all delight to prove, 
the grace through every vessel flows 
in purest streams of love. 
4. E'en now we think and speak the same, 
and cordially agree, 
concentered all, through Jesus' name, 
in perfect harmony. 
5. We all partake the joy of one; 
the common peace we feel, 
a peace to sensual minds unknown, 
a joy unspeakable. 
6. And if our fellowship below 
in Jesus be so sweet, 
what height of rapture shall we know 
when round his throne we meet!
Thought for Today:
"And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Syria.
~~~~~~~