iShineInMinistry

Matthew 9:35-37 (ESV)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

It is the New Year and more than likely, you have been enlisted to become the accountability partner of one or more ladies that have decided, “2015 is the year that I will/will not ______(fill in the blank)” I know that this is a privilege, blessing and honor that God would allow us to be such a large part of their road to spiritual growth. Whether they are trying to lose weight, grow in their prayer life, become a submissive wife or just become someone’s wife, we know that without the help of the Lord this will not go well. However; there is one thing that our Savior, Jesus, showed us in scripture when people clearly need help…have compassion.

When Jesus interacted with the people during His earthly ministry, He looked on the people, so full of sin and in need of guidance, with compassion. They desperately needed help and rather than wash His hands of the people, judge or be annoyed, Jesus had total complete, sincere kindheartedness toward them. When we are keeping someone accountable and in three months (or three hours) they call, text or email and say they have ‘fallen’ or ‘failed’ in the area they are trying to improve we too have an opportunity. We get to look on them with compassion, pray with them to continue in the way God has shown them and lovingly redirect them to the goal they had in mind when they began this year.

What an amazing thing that we ladies in ministry get to do…and not just at the beginning of the year, but every single day of our lives as we do the work of the ministry that God has shown us to do at church, in our homes, on the mission field, or at a ministerial organization. We have such an amazing chance to tangibly show the compassion of Christ to people that need to know that their Savior loves them and wants them to get to that place of healing, deliverance, growing or season of change. Please be encouraged and be an encourager as you have the opportunity to help someone stay accountable this year (and always).

1 Samuel 23:21 (KNJV)

…“Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.