Be Compassionate - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) May 16, 2025

We serve the compassionate God, and it's no surprise that His Son displayed great love. He went from town to town healing people and sharing the good word that grace was available from a loving God. Matthew 9:36-38 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus saw people and had compassion for them. He understood their foundational problem - the devil was harassing them, making them helpless. They were bogged down with illnesses in their bodies and minds that kept them from God's promise of fullness of life. And worse, they lacked the knowledge of God's word, which could free them (Hosea 4:6). In addition, their shepherds, religious leaders, and teachers were unfortunately failing to keep adequate watch of them.

The people in question were more religiously zealous than the average current Christian. They frequently attended their synagogues, performed religious rites, fasted, and observed the Sabbath strictly. And yet, Jesus saw harassed and helpless people whose circumstances caused him to have deep compassion for them. He couldn't ignore their plight. He had to take the time to teach them and bring them closer to the Lord.

We are called to emulate our Savior, so we too must have compassion for others. We who know the love of the Father, and the guidance of His Word and Spirit, must understand that no matter the challenges we face, billions are yet to encounter Jesus Christ truly. This includes our fellow churchgoers and family members. We show them compassion by lovingly sharing the good news about God's grace through our deeds and words. Financially supporting the individuals and organizations who do this is another option. We must increasingly intercede for the helpless and suffering, pleading to God to ease their plight. We should also fill more stomachs, clothe the needy, and be the godly voice for the oppressed and voiceless.

It is easy to say we don't have the funds or the time. However, God has an interesting way of filling pockets when the funds will be used for His purposes. And regarding time, we have more time than we realize. We all find time for the things that are a priority, many of which are insignificant when we think about them. We can take time from those activities to express the compassion of Jesus and the love of God to others. When we desire to be more compassionate and loving, the Lord will work on the details and make it possible for us to accomplish this goal. He sent us the Holy Spirit to help us become more pleasing to Him and is therefore responsible for making it happen. All we have to do is let Him have His way in us.

Plus, we must do what the Savior instructed and "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). Thus, we need to pray for more servant field workers to spread His word and free others from bondage through Jesus. Note, we shouldn't be content to leave the heavy lifting to others. Every believer is a Kingdom Ambassador called to make disciples by teaching others about Him and His teachings (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, we should be ready to be those the Lord of the harvest will send to do His will in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and around the globe.

The Lord will help us to do more than what we've done by His grace. He will help us to lean on Him for strength and wisdom so we can express godly compassion and love. As the word states in Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. IJMN Amen.

To learn more, please read:

1. To want or to give? That is the question

2. Freely Give

3. Give Generously

4. Topic: Compassion

5. Topic: Love

6. Topic: God's Love

7. Topic: Intercessor & Intercession

satan's Lack Of Wisdom - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 13, 2025

The devil seems so smart and huge, but what if I told you it was less than nothing? Would you believe it? What if I told you that satan lacked wisdom, would you believe me?

The Bible states in Isaiah 41:24 - But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable. In this verse, the Lord was speaking about false gods and idols. These represent the devil and are just a few of the many faces it wears to scam individuals. Just as these false gods and idols are less than nothing, so is satan, and it is important for believers to remember this.

The devil appears much grander than it is for the simple fact that it has spent time gaining expertise in its mandate, which is to steal, kill and destroy (Matthew 10:10). Believers have learned that the devil is crafty and has many devious means to cause humanity to fall short of the glory they are to give to the Lord (Romans 3:23).

While these things may be true, we cannot forget the uneven exchange and why Jesus came to die - to make a mockery of all that 'expertise'. 1 John 3:8 - But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil (NLT). Through Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit, and He's the 'Secret Sauce' we need to remain the overcomers we are.

Still not convinced that satan isn't that wise? Then why did it think it could use Job's experience to prove God a liar? All that happened was it got a zero return for investing in bothering God's servant. It didn't learn from that experience and tried to tempt Jesus right after He'd concluded a 40-day fast. Now, come on? Does that display wisdom?

And the devil didn't stop there. It manipulated men, including Judas, of whom the Bible says satan entered him (Luke 22:3). These individuals pushed for Jesus's crucifixion and death. Had they, and the evil power behind them - satan - been wise, they would never have orchestrated Christ's death (1 Corinthians 2:8). Doing so led to the freedom of souls from hell and the free flow of the Holy Spirit in mankind.

Just because satan has been doing evil for a very long time does not mean we are powerless against its schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). We have God's word, the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, the Armor of God, and so much more. Our access to God means we receive strategy, true wisdom, and the glory of the Lord, to put the devil to shame in every situation that concerns us. Yes, satan lacks wisdom, but we don't, and we need to be intentional about walking in the Spirit of God so the enemy remains under our feet always.

Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

We serve the living God. The One who can do the impossible. He speaks, and it is done. The Almighty and All-Powerful One. In Him we have authority, and satan has none. The Lord will help us to remember our authority in Christ and the Godfidence we need to walk around with, knowing we are on the Lord's side, IJMN Amen.

See you at Noon EST for fellowship, and between now and then, share your thoughts on today's message, share Christian music that praises God and uplifts your fellow believers. God bless you.​

Dear Peppers: The Uneven Exchange - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) May 9, 2025

I never watched 'The Passion of the Christ'. The movie came out in my Before Christ (BC) days, so unsurprisingly, I was uninterested in the subject, Jesus. I also didn't feel the need to devote over two hours of my time. Mind you, I had the markings of Christianity - I identified as a Christian, prayed regularly, and had a mini Bible in my bag at all times. Yet, I wasn't interested in learning about Jesus through the film or, frankly, through any other means.

As the years passed, I saw outtakes from the movie illustrating the great degradation and trauma Jesus likely went through as He made His way to Calvary. As someone who now appreciates His sacrifice, I am very grateful that He died on that cross and went through all He suffered for my sake. He suffered injustice, nakedness, thirst, hunger, and abject poverty, so I never need to go through these things to become a child of God.

A few months ago, some scripture got me thinking about the exchange that took place that day - a sinless man suffering and dying so sinful people, like myself, could walk free from the consequences of their iniquity. It was an uneven exchange because I paid no price for this freedom. Jesus bore the consequences of my sins so I could enjoy the fullness of life promised in John 10:10. He went through so much, and it all worked out in my favor. Not every believer has been so fortunate. The early church was targeted, and the cost of their faith was often death. Even now, many suffer discrimination and are massacred for believing in Jesus. God's word teaches that I must intercede for my fellow believers and, where legally possible, support their freedom to worship the Lord and live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-4). I also realize that I cannot take my freedom to do so for granted.

​It is striking that through this uneven exchange, I get to witness God's power via the Holy Spirit. I have been blessed to see God move in not only my life but increasingly in the lives of others. I have seen Him answer prayers, and He proves Himself more than able to do the impossible. All this is because of that uneven exchange from several millennia ago. An exchange that guarantees I, and countless other faithful, enjoy the privilege and benefits of a covenant with God that we didn't have to physically die for. Instead, the Lord wants us to let His Spirit help us die to sinful desires so we remain free from the product of sin - death in hell.

As I walk with the Lord, He has revealed that there are burdens I've carried that were never His plan for my life. These are issues I wasn't meant to wrestle with, things that had to go for me to get closer to experiencing freedom in my mind, body, and spirit. He didn't create me to deal with the wounds of betrayal - my wrong choices led me into that trap. Certain types of grief were not to happen to me, and if I'd sought His wisdom, His word would have navigated me away from the events and persons that brought that into my life (Hosea 4:6). He didn't create me to be angry or petty - those were the wrong responses to the problems I'd faced. Problems He never intended for me to tackle. He helped me not hold on to guilt or shame, reminding me through His word that I was made to receive His love, compassion, and forgiveness. Always.

For these changes to happen, I had to confront what Christ achieved on the cross, accept His sacrifice, and the resulting rewards. I am still learning and will likely continue learning for the rest of my life. That said, I now understand that, like myself, many who believe in Jesus don't fully understand what His sacrifice means. Hence, we are getting bogged down by certain situations that should never have been able to hold us. We've gotten used to shackles we weren't meant to wear, even seeing them as jewelry instead of what they are. We've ignored the distinction between God taking us on a challenging journey for our good, versus our sin keeping us from His best. We've forgotten that we might need to fast and pray for discernment because Jesus said certain issues will not be overcome without both (Matthew 17:21). We struggle to praise, forgetting it ushers us into God's presence where His perspective and freedom are available. And we dismiss intercession, spending to spread the gospel, and helping the needy, though doing so pleases the Lord and unlocks the closed spiritual doors.

We have to acknowledge and take advantage of the uneven exchange made for our benefit. In so doing, God will usher us through experiences designed to grow us and prepare us for His plan for our lives. God's Spirit and His Word make these possible. May He help each of us to fully leverage the freedom purchased for us on Calvary's tree, IJMN, Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship.