Compelled by Christ's Love: Faith and Compassion

Devotional

Day 1: Love in Action: Compelled by Christ's Love

When we truly love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, it naturally compels us to love others. This love is not passive but active, driving us to make a difference in the lives of those in need, such as children in foster care. Our love for God should manifest in tangible acts of kindness and support for others. The love of Christ is transformative, urging us to step out of our comfort zones and serve those who are vulnerable and marginalized.

This active love is a reflection of Jesus' own ministry, where He consistently reached out to the outcasts and the needy. By loving others as Christ loves us, we become His hands and feet in the world, demonstrating the gospel through our actions. Consider how you can show this love in your daily life, whether through volunteering, offering support to a struggling friend, or simply being present for someone in need. [21:18]

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can show Christ's love to someone in need this week. How can you make your love for God tangible through your actions?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing

Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus was not due to a lack of compassion but was part of a greater plan to reveal His divine power. Often, God's timing may seem perplexing to us, but it is always perfect and purposeful. Trusting in His timing can strengthen our faith and help us see His glory in our lives.

When we face delays or unanswered prayers, it can be challenging to understand God's plan. However, these moments are opportunities to deepen our trust in Him. Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus ultimately led to a greater revelation of His power and glory. Similarly, the delays and waiting periods in our lives can lead to a deeper understanding of God's character and His perfect plan for us. [45:10]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a delay or unanswered prayer. How did you see God's perfect timing and purpose revealed in that situation?

Day 3: Embracing Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus' declaration that He is the resurrection and the life means that eternal life is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who believe in Him. This belief should transform how we live daily, giving us hope and purpose even in the face of death and suffering.

Understanding Jesus as the resurrection and the life changes our perspective on life and death. It gives us hope that transcends our current circumstances and assures us of a future with Him. This hope should influence our daily actions, encouraging us to live with purpose and share this life-giving message with others. [56:38]

John 11:25-26 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Reflection: How does the reality of Jesus being the resurrection and the life influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?

Day 4: Jesus Shares in Our Grief

Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing His deep compassion and empathy. He enters into our moments of sorrow and grief, understanding our pain and offering comfort. This assures us that we are never alone in our suffering; Jesus is with us, sharing in our burdens.

The image of Jesus weeping with Mary and Martha is a powerful reminder of His empathy and compassion. He does not stand distant from our pain but enters into it with us. This understanding of Jesus' character can bring immense comfort during times of grief and suffering, knowing that He is with us and understands our pain. [01:00:17]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to invite Jesus to share in your grief and burdens? How can you find comfort in His presence during these times?

Day 5: Reinforcing and Clarifying Faith

The miracle of raising Lazarus was meant to reinforce the disciples' faith and clarify the belief of others. Our faith journey is ongoing, requiring constant growth and reinforcement. God uses various circumstances in our lives to deepen our trust in Him and clarify our understanding of His nature and promises.

Faith is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of growth and understanding. The raising of Lazarus served to strengthen the faith of Jesus' followers and clarify the beliefs of those who were uncertain. Similarly, God uses the events in our lives to reinforce our faith and deepen our understanding of His character. Embrace these moments as opportunities for growth and greater clarity in your walk with God. [50:21]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or trial in your life. How has this experience reinforced or clarified your faith in God? What lessons have you learned about His nature and promises?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship Jesus Christ, our Savior, who loved us and gave Himself for us. We also had a special presentation by Project Belong to raise awareness about foster care. The core of our worship and message today centered on the love of Jesus and how it compels us to love others, especially those in need, like children in foster care.

We then delved into John 11, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. This event, occurring about a month before Jesus' crucifixion, was not just a miracle for Lazarus and his family but a profound revelation of Jesus' divine power and identity. Jesus delayed His visit to Lazarus to ensure that His disciples and others would witness His power over death, thereby reinforcing their faith.

The story of Lazarus serves multiple purposes: it reinforces the faith of Jesus' followers, clarifies the belief of those who are uncertain, and launches new belief in those who witness the miracle. Jesus' actions demonstrate that He is the resurrection and the life, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him. This miracle also shows Jesus' deep compassion as He weeps with Mary and Martha, sharing in their grief even though He knows He will soon turn their sorrow into joy.

The event also highlights the varied responses to Jesus' miracles. While many believed in Him after witnessing Lazarus' resurrection, others hardened their hearts and rejected Him, fearing the political implications of His growing influence. This dichotomy challenges us to examine our own faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Love of Christ Compels Us to Act: When we truly love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, it naturally compels us to love others. This love is not passive but active, driving us to make a difference in the lives of those in need, such as children in foster care. Our love for God should manifest in tangible acts of kindness and support for others. [21:18]
2. God's Timing is Perfect: Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus was not due to a lack of compassion but was part of a greater plan to reveal His divine power. Often, God's timing may seem perplexing to us, but it is always perfect and purposeful. Trusting in His timing can strengthen our faith and help us see His glory in our lives. [45:10]
3. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus' declaration that He is the resurrection and the life means that eternal life is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who believe in Him. This belief should transform how we live daily, giving us hope and purpose even in the face of death and suffering. [56:38]
4. Jesus Shares in Our Grief: Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing His deep compassion and empathy. He enters into our moments of sorrow and grief, understanding our pain and offering comfort. This assures us that we are never alone in our suffering; Jesus is with us, sharing in our burdens. [60:17]
5. Faith Must Be Reinforced and Clarified: The miracle of raising Lazarus was meant to reinforce the disciples' faith and clarify the belief of others. Our faith journey is ongoing, requiring constant growth and reinforcement. God uses various circumstances in our lives to deepen our trust in Him and clarify our understanding of His nature and promises. [50:21]
### [50:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:06] - Community Groups and Scripture Assembly
[07:59] - Adult Summer Sunday School
[09:02] - Opening Prayer
[20:39] - The Greatest Commandment
[21:18] - Love in Action: Foster Care Awareness
[26:48] - Project Belong Presentation
[41:05] - Study of John 11: The Raising of Lazarus
[45:10] - Jesus' Delay and Its Purpose
[50:21] - Reinforcing and Clarifying Faith
[56:38] - Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life
[60:17] - Jesus Weeps with Us
[64:03] - Clarifying Belief Through Lazarus' Resurrection
[69:38] - Encouragement to Believe and Grow in Faith
[72:27] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reason Jesus gave for Lazarus' sickness according to John 11:4? ([42:53])
How did Jesus demonstrate His compassion towards Mary and Martha in John 11:33-35? ([58:53])
What was the reaction of the people who witnessed the raising of Lazarus? ([01:04:03])
How did Jesus describe Himself to Martha in John 11:25-26? ([56:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus delay His visit to Lazarus, and what does this teach us about God's timing? ([45:10])
How does Jesus' statement "I am the resurrection and the life" impact our understanding of eternal life? ([56:38])
What does Jesus' weeping with Mary and Martha reveal about His character and His relationship with us? ([01:00:17])
How did the miracle of raising Lazarus serve to reinforce and clarify the faith of Jesus' followers? ([50:21])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt compelled to act out of love for others. How can you apply this same love to support children in foster care or other needs in your community? ([21:18])
Have you ever experienced a situation where God's timing seemed perplexing? How did it ultimately reveal His purpose and strengthen your faith? ([45:10])
How does the belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life change the way you face daily challenges and suffering? ([56:38])
In what ways can you show compassion and empathy to those who are grieving or in pain, following Jesus' example of weeping with Mary and Martha? ([01:00:17])
Think about a recent trial or difficult situation you faced. How did it help to reinforce or clarify your faith in God? ([50:21])
How can you actively seek to grow and reinforce your faith daily, ensuring it is not stagnant? ([50:21])
Are there areas in your life where you find it hard to believe in Jesus' power and promises? How can you address these doubts and strengthen your belief? ([01:09:38])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The greatest thing we can do is love God with all of our heart and when we love God with all of our heart... it compelled him to make a difference to do something when we love God it causes us in our hearts to love other people and that's what foster care awareness is all about it's loving those who need someone to love them to come beside them and care for them." [21:07](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You know, Jesus Christ cares. He really does care about other people. He enters into our grief with us. He knows when we're going through heartache. He knows when we're going through sorrow. And he knows how he's going to work it all out. He knows how he's going to resolve all the problem. It's not a surprise to God what he's going to do." [01:00:17](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You see, the Christian life is one of constant growth and reinforcement in our walk. God will do things in our midst to increase our faith so that we might trust him more and more. He will bring us along to help us to understand who he is a little bit more." [50:21](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "None of us know how much time we have left. Some of us think we still have quite a bit of time. But we never know what's awaiting us tomorrow. Car accidents, cancer diagnosis, so many deaths at premature ages. We must be busy about doing the father's business while there is still day. We must redeem the time, do what we can while we can." [47:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus Christ stated that he had come to do this work so that others might see the glory of God. So that they might see exactly who he was. So that they may see that Jesus Christ was truly who he claimed to be, the Son of God. He said, believe, and you will see the glory of God. Do you believe this morning?" [01:11:09](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Jesus lets them know through the messenger that the purpose of this sickness was not for death. It was for the glory of God to be revealed. Jesus was about to do something amazing, but he wasn't going to do it for the benefits of Mary and Martha. He was going to do something amazing. But it was not for the benefit of Lazarus, though Lazarus would benefit greatly. And it wasn't even for the benefit of unbelievers, though this would be helpful in them understanding exactly who he is. The whole purpose of what Jesus Christ was about to do in raising Lazarus from the dead was to reveal himself, who he really is, to the disciples and to other people." [42:53](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You see, the Christian life is one of constant growth and reinforcement in our walk. God will do things in our midst to increase our faith so that we might trust him more and more. He will bring us along to help us to understand who he is a little bit more. And disciples, we're constantly going through a journey of growth and belief. And we must do so as well. We shall never be content with where we are in our Christian walk. We should always desire to grow and increase in our faith." [50:21](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Martha believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, she stated. But she needed some clarification to her belief. The death and resurrection of her brother clarified her belief as to exactly who Jesus was. He not only offers life at the end of days, he offers life today. Because he is the resurrection and the life." [01:04:03](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Despite this amazing miracle that Jesus Christ had done right before their eyes, raised a man that had been dead for four days, they still, rejected. They didn't want to believe. The religious leaders were so concerned that, about this event and what was happening. So it says in verse number 47, they said, What do we do? For he does many miracles. They didn't deny the miracle. They didn't deny the fact that he raised Lazarus from the dead." [01:06:28](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He used the event to reinforce, clarify, and launch the faith of others. He's about to leave his disciples behind and commission them to do an impossible task and reach the world with the gospel. They needed their faith to be reinforced. Mary and Martha believed that Jesus was able to keep their brother from dying and believed that he could raise Lazarus up at the last day. But they needed their faith to be clarified and to understand that Jesus is the resurrection and life." [01:09:38](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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