Compassionate Love: Displaying Compassion for Those Who Struggle with Mental Illness (c)2019 Nancy Virden, Always The Fight Ministries
To have a relationship with Jesus is to have a relationship with God. For that connection to be so personal and close, is indeed amazing. In part 1 of this post, I explained God’s side of this two-way agreement. Today, let us discover how to react to his unending love.
Our positive and meaningful response to God
One quote from Jesus that has received a lot of press is “Love your neighbor.” Most people seem to have heard it whether they know where it came from or not. Many probably are not aware it is only part of a powerful statement.
A man asked Jesus which one of all God’s rules and regulations was the most important. Jesus’ surprising answer was this:
”Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
As I see it and believe other scriptures support, the heart is equated with emotions, the soul with faithfulness, the mind with knowledge and understanding, and strength with our will. We can feel sincere love for him, put him above all else, study the Bible to know him and choose to obey his words.
“The second is this,” Jesus continued. “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).
Well, that narrows it down, doesn’t it? Our side of the relationship with God is to love him and love others. How does that look in the day-to-day?
We do what God says: 1 John 5:3 “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…”
We believe and love: 1 John 3:23 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”
We practice love: 1 John 3: 16-18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
We study the Bible as a whole: Psalm 1:1,2 “Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
We study the Bible to grow our faith: Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
We pray: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
We do not hold back in prayer: Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Mental health needs to love and be loved. Love is an action, and a choice we make each day, that can overpower thoughts to the contrary. Love is not apathy. Love is what God wants. Love is who he is.
Today’s Helpful Word
1 John 4:13-16
“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love…”
***** COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME
NOTE: I am not a doctor or a mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental and behavioral health challenges. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.
If you are struggling emotionally today or feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.
If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. (for international emergency numbers, go here ), or go to your nearest emergency room. Hope and help are yours.
Always the Fight 