Compassion, Peace, Love

The goal of the salvation of a believer is, the guidance in essence of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1:3-6, we read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” Jesus was a Person, well-pleasing to the heavenly Father (Matthew 3:17). His character is our example and our goal. Jude (a brother of James), and thus also a child of Maria and Joseph, tells us in his greeting what the character of Jesus looked like: compassion, peace and love! It is his wish, that believers grow and mature in character and thereby glorify God. What concerns Jesus, also concerns the Father in heaven. Jesus said that we see Him and recognize Him, and this is also the case with the eternal God (John 12:45). In Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). God's compassion is reflected in that there is still time for grace. God proves to have much more patience and forbearance with the human race than what we deserve or that one person can or would want to have towards another. God's grace is not of this world, otherwise it would have been used up a long time ago. Jesus told His disciples that He gives them His peace – John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'' This peace exceeds more than we can humanly fathom. It is a godly peace and thus, something which the world does not have nor know.

They also do not strive towards it in any manner – the conscience of the world is lifeless. God knows it and protects the children of God through the hope-filled peace in our hearts – regardless of what happens! In HIM we come to peace. When we speak about love, then we speak about God. God is love (1 John 4:8). Out of love, God made a way which expresses HIM, to define love. HE gave His life, to reconcile us to Himself through Jesus Christ and to give believers the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Love reconciles is. The Bible is clear that there is no greater love than that a man lays down his life for his friends – Jesus Christ did just that (John 15:13). And He didn't only do it for one person, but for all who accepts Him as their Saviour and believes in Him. There is no greater love than that! This manner of friendship is not merely a mutual interest between two people (although it could not do any harm), but it is a deepfounded, faithful, earnest goal-orientated relationship grounded on love and compassion. Who else could implement this and root it in our inner souls than the eternal, living God? In this follows the succession in that we grow Christlike and practically live out some of the characteristics which God is in Person, through Jesus Christ, which He practically revealed to us through His example. Amen.

Jörg Bauer