How to Become More Understanding

JESUS’ INSTRUCTION TO BEING MORE UNDERSTANDING IS DIRECT, LOVING AND SIMPLE I BELIEVE

1 Kings 3:9 “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Are we always looking at situations with Compassion?

Matthew 9:36 “When he (JESUS)saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Christ looked at every situation with compassion. Do we? He saw the sin, suffering, and sorrow of mankind. How would or really “how is” Jesus looking at us today? What have we humans gotten ourselves into? Parents say that don’t they?

We must see the needs of others, too. Having compassion on the less fortunate and concern for the lost increases our understanding. Peter tells us in 3:8, “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other.

Definition of sympathize

intransitive verb 1: to be in keeping, accord, or harmony2: to react or respond in sympathy3: to share in suffering or grief : COMMISERATEsympathize with a friend in troublealso : to express such sympathy4: to be in sympathy intellectuallysympathize with a proposal Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”

Are We Listening with Heartfelt/Genuine Concern?

Isaiah 65:24 “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!”

The Lord listens with concern. He hears the cries of the poor, the lonely, the ill, the tempted, and the sinful. He cares and understands.

We too as believers of Jesus Christ, must listen with concern, never turning a deaf ear to the cries of others. 1 Peter 3:15 “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” Listening increases our understanding, Soooo-we are to be listening? Didn’t I preach on this last week?

Lift each other up with Cheerfulness and great joy. Mark 9:27 “But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.”

Jesus didn’t stop with seeing and hearing the needs of others. He lifted burdens, healed the sick, and forgave the sinful.

When we cheerfully help lift the burdens of others, pray for the needy, and ungrudgingly pay our tithes and offerings into the church to meet its needs, we find joy and satisfaction (1 John 3:17–18) tells us:

1 John 3:17–18 “17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Love with Christ-likeness.....Don’t we love to be loved?

1 John 4:11 “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”.........Isn’t this the “moral” of the story? Aren’t we over and over told, commanded, instructed to love each other? It’s hard to really love some people............

Love is the world’s greatest need. Christ brings fulfilment for that need. He died on the cross for our sins. .........

John 3:16–17 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

BUT, When we look with compassion, listen with concern, and lift with cheerfulness, we are not only capable of loving with Christ-likeness, we are told to. When We become more understanding like Jesus, begin Loving more like Jesus......can you imagine the change in this world?

In Closing today I leave you all with this COMMANDMENT. John 13:34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

CLOSING PRAYER.........AMEN