The days are commonly filled with agitation and strife. The world wrestles with Covid 19, political angst, and the general curse of sin. Believers in Christ are also often drawn into stressful encounters and situations due to these things. Many have noticed a decline in public civility. There is increased rudeness and growing displays of frustration and impatience. Some are in terrible straights. In my local community, some lost jobs due to Covid 19 and then lost everything else except their own lives to local flooding. Given all these things, there is a real need for the truth. But for believers, there also needs to be real kindness and compassion displayed first to each other and to those afflicted around us. Regardless if someone is struggling with Covid 19 or feelings of oppression, all people are afflicted by the curse of sin in some way.

Notice what our mindset and course of action should be as believers.

Eph. 4:29-32  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Believers ought not say anything that goes against the purpose of edifying those who hear it. Remember that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Put away those things listed that accomplish evil things. Rather than that end, be kind. Treat each other, even if you disagree on a topic, with tenderheartedness. We should forgive each other because Christ forgave us. He had great compassion on us by way of the kindness displayed to us in His Son Jesus Christ.

God is a compassionate God.

Psalm 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 111:4  He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

Psalm 112:4  Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Psalm 145:8  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

So if God is our example, and He has forgiven us, shouldn’t we also be slow to anger and have great mercy toward others? James 1:19-20 gives us the direction: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

Be quick to hear out another person. Do not be quick to judge. Do not quickly  blast someone out of pride. Do not snap at someone because you have let yourself soak in frustration like a sponge. Show them you care first before speaking. Plan what you say so that it can be beneficial to them. Model Christ in your conduct toward them.

Think on Christ’s example.

Mark 6:34  And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Many times He had compassion on the multitudes or even the individuals that He healed. Jesus was here because God cares. We need to also care about each other and the lost.

Remember the things that are revealed as God’s will for us in this.

1 Peter 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 John 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

There are real needs out there, but will we do what we each can to help meet them? Sometimes that love requires some real world action and sacrifice on our parts.

Jude 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

The world is full of falsehood and false teachers but we need to have compassion on each other to make a difference. People can be rescued.

Finally think on this passage.

Col. 4:2-6  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

There is certainly a door open for the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With so much despair and turmoil, there is a longing for a remedy. The world will offer its cures and reforms but why not offer people something that will remedy their sin curse for all of eternity? Why not offer hurting believers some true rescue from the clutches of deception? Let us walk wisely knowing the time is short. Let us have grace come out of our mouths as much as is possible. We represent Christ and He is the key.