1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,635 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:16,235 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide meditation. I'm Tyler. 11 00:01:18,195 --> 00:01:25,155 Speaker 1: What does compassion look like to you? If you've ever 12 00:01:25,235 --> 00:01:29,515 Speaker 1: experienced homelessness, or have someone close to you who has, 13 00:01:30,835 --> 00:01:35,395 Speaker 1: then you are likely to have more compassion on the homeless. 14 00:01:36,635 --> 00:01:39,515 Speaker 1: If you've ever suffered from a mental illness, you have 15 00:01:39,595 --> 00:01:44,275 Speaker 1: more compassion on others with your same affliction. You understand 16 00:01:44,275 --> 00:01:49,035 Speaker 1: more deeply what others are going through. Consider that for 17 00:01:49,115 --> 00:01:56,195 Speaker 1: a moment, as you take a deep breath, let your 18 00:01:56,235 --> 00:02:08,595 Speaker 1: body relax into this time. Have you considered that Christians 19 00:02:08,875 --> 00:02:15,795 Speaker 1: can have compassion for sinners? Why? Because, as the Apostle 20 00:02:15,835 --> 00:02:19,875 Speaker 1: Paul tells us in Romans, three twenty three. For all 21 00:02:20,035 --> 00:02:23,675 Speaker 1: have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 22 00:02:25,915 --> 00:02:34,635 Speaker 1: How does that help your view of others? Paul makes 23 00:02:34,675 --> 00:02:38,235 Speaker 1: it clear that there is no distinction between Jew or Greek, 24 00:02:38,635 --> 00:02:43,395 Speaker 1: male or female, slave or free, and that God desires 25 00:02:43,475 --> 00:02:49,395 Speaker 1: all to come to repentance. All have sinned, and those 26 00:02:49,435 --> 00:02:54,235 Speaker 1: who believe in Jesus are justified by His grace as 27 00:02:54,275 --> 00:02:58,475 Speaker 1: a gift through the redemption that is in Christ. Jesus, 28 00:03:00,795 --> 00:03:10,555 Speaker 1: you were once like those who don't believe, the Next 29 00:03:10,555 --> 00:03:14,635 Speaker 1: time you find yourself being critical of someone, remember that 30 00:03:14,715 --> 00:03:17,195 Speaker 1: God does not want us to find fault in others, 31 00:03:18,635 --> 00:03:21,155 Speaker 1: but to encourage them to live in the light of 32 00:03:21,195 --> 00:03:33,115 Speaker 1: His love and mercy. Choose compassion and understanding over criticism. Lord, 33 00:03:35,475 --> 00:03:37,875 Speaker 1: help me change my heart from one of superiority and 34 00:03:37,995 --> 00:03:45,955 Speaker 1: judgment to one of inclusion and love. I'm no better 35 00:03:45,995 --> 00:03:50,115 Speaker 1: than those I would condemn, but you found me when 36 00:03:50,115 --> 00:03:54,915 Speaker 1: I was wandering in my sin. Help me to want 37 00:03:55,075 --> 00:04:00,675 Speaker 1: that for all people. I know that I am a 38 00:04:00,715 --> 00:04:04,155 Speaker 1: new creation in Christ Jesus, but help me to remember 39 00:04:04,195 --> 00:04:08,755 Speaker 1: that I was once lost like those I might be judging, 40 00:04:10,915 --> 00:04:14,315 Speaker 1: And give me a heart of compassion, even for believers 41 00:04:14,355 --> 00:04:20,635 Speaker 1: who may be struggling In your name, I pray, Amen, 42 00:04:24,595 --> 00:04:34,835 Speaker 1: keep on taking deep, slow breaths, relaxing your body and 43 00:04:34,875 --> 00:04:42,115 Speaker 1: steadying your heart rate. If any distractions pop up, acknowledge 44 00:04:42,155 --> 00:04:45,555 Speaker 1: them and then tell them you'll deal with them later. 45 00:04:47,915 --> 00:05:06,635 Speaker 1: This is your time with the Lord. Where have you 46 00:05:06,715 --> 00:05:10,035 Speaker 1: found a spirit of condemnation or judgment in your heart? 47 00:05:12,155 --> 00:05:15,795 Speaker 1: Confess that to God. Let him show you where you 48 00:05:15,915 --> 00:05:20,915 Speaker 1: need compassion. Maybe there's a specific person that comes to mind. 49 00:05:22,475 --> 00:05:43,115 Speaker 1: Focus on God's voice. Paul is quoting Psalm fourteen three 50 00:05:43,355 --> 00:05:47,795 Speaker 1: when he says in Romans three ten, there is none righteous, 51 00:05:48,475 --> 00:05:55,795 Speaker 1: no not one. We are sinners, saved by grace, made 52 00:05:55,835 --> 00:06:02,955 Speaker 1: alive in Christ, and given new life. Pray that for 53 00:06:03,235 --> 00:06:11,555 Speaker 1: all others. Lord, I don't often think of my life 54 00:06:11,635 --> 00:06:14,675 Speaker 1: before believing in Christ as being on a sinking ship. 55 00:06:16,715 --> 00:06:20,915 Speaker 1: That's really what it boils down to, because nothing on 56 00:06:20,955 --> 00:06:24,075 Speaker 1: this earth can save me from my sins. Only the 57 00:06:24,115 --> 00:06:29,355 Speaker 1: blood of Jesus, and those that I have been condemning 58 00:06:29,475 --> 00:06:38,635 Speaker 1: are on that same sinking ship. Ah Lord, give me 59 00:06:38,675 --> 00:06:42,675 Speaker 1: a heart of compassion for the lost. Never let me 60 00:06:42,755 --> 00:06:45,035 Speaker 1: forget the gift of grace that you have given to me, 61 00:06:47,235 --> 00:06:51,875 Speaker 1: the mercy you've shown me. Help me to show that 62 00:06:51,955 --> 00:07:04,195 Speaker 1: to others. Amen. Everyone you meet as a story. Before 63 00:07:04,275 --> 00:07:08,795 Speaker 1: jumping to conclusions and judging others, remember that you were 64 00:07:08,835 --> 00:07:16,155 Speaker 1: once on their same sinking ship. Until next time, may 65 00:07:16,195 --> 00:07:17,835 Speaker 1: you abide in Christ.