Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

Compassion is passion that is aimed at setting people free. Every time Jesus had compassion, He was about to fix something. If people were hungry, He had compassion and fed them. If they were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36), He had compassion and said, ―I am the Good Sheph e rd; I‘ll lead you.‖ (See John 10:11– 15.) To show compassion means to apply one‘s strength to meet people‘s needs. Mercy is not treating a person as he deserves when he has committed a wrong against you. God has extended mer cy to us in salvation. “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: whil e we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). As His representatives on earth, He wants us to show mercy, also. We are not to seek revenge against oth ers, but are to freely forgive them and do everything we can to lead them to Christ. “We are therefore Christ‟s ambass a dors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Justice means doing what is right by others. God hates injustice. A real man reflects His nature and character by following His command to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8). In Matthew 6:33, Jesus reduced life to one thing: “S eek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” He was saying, in effect, ―Look, all of you are talking about your mortgages, cars, lands, clothing, food, drink, and everything else. You have your priorities confused. Seek first the king dom of God.‖ A real man has a passion to see the kingdom of God es tablished in his country. Sinners make him sad. Broken lives depress him. People who don‘t know Christ concern him. A real man rejoices when people are delivered from the devil. The Bible says that Jesus sent out His disciples with the au thority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. (See Luke 10:1 – 24.) When they came back, what did Jesus Key #9 A Real Man Is Faithful and Loyal to the Kingdom of God and His Mission, the Church

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