New Year Devotional: Selah Compassion ConversationsShembull

Move with Compassion “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” — John 1: 14 (the message) Selah Eugene Peterson writes in his translation of the gospel of John, the word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood. We all have neighbours that we pass by every day. At the coffee shop, we talk to our neighbours as we order our morning drink. At the school gate, we see our neighbour as we wave goodbye to our children. At the end of our driveway, we see the postal service delivery person and nod our heads to greet another neighbour. What stories are we collecting in these very ordinary moments in our everyday? Nine-year-old Keysha from Emaus Child Development Centre in Indonesia was inspired by scripture. When she heard the Bible story of Jesus feeding 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, she was compelled with hope to help others. Keysha aimed to help elderly people and orphans in her community, asking friends to contribute five handfuls of rice. Sometimes it just takes a simple idea to reframe the small things, that become revolutionary. God delights in responding with hope. The word compassion means “to be moved from the very centre of who we are”. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” —John 3:16-17 The cornerstone of our faith reminds us that it was with generosity that God, the Creator of the universe, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, with compassion, to a world in need of redemption. Reflection Question: How can you learn from the stories of your neighbours to be moved with compassion? Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of compassion that moved you to give the gift of your Son generously. His redemption and resurrection indeed will assure us of a promising future full of your love and kindness in eternity. Amen