Rick Warren's Blog, page 556

A Tender Heart and a Tough Hide

In yesterday���s devotional, I wrote that we need to look at the pain behind the behavior of people who need extra grace. We learned that hurt people hurt people.

Look Behind the Behavior of Those Who Frustrate You

We all have people in our lives that drive us nuts. I call them EGRs, which stands for Extra Grace Required. But have you ever thought that God puts them in your life to be heavenly sandpaper. They may irritate us, but God uses them to take off our rough edges and shape our character.

Care Enough to Spend Whatever It Takes

Demonstrating mercy begins with seeing the need, sympathizing with others��� pain, and taking action. The Good Samaritan modeled all of that behavior when he reached out to care for the injured man. But there���s a critical fourth step to showing mercy that he also demonstrated.

When You See a Need, Act Now

The last few days we���ve been looking at what the Parable of the Good Samaritan can teach us about demonstrating mercy to those who are hurting. We���ve seen that we must see the needs around us and sympathize with people���s pain.

Open Your Ears and Sympathize

Jesus gives us a great model for demonstrating mercy in the story of the Good Samaritan. We can draw out at least four steps toward showing mercy from the Good Samaritan���s actions. In yesterday���s devotional we learned that we must see other people���s needs.

Opening Our Eyes to the Needs Around Us

Few passages in Scripture give us a more complete view of mercy than Jesus��� Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this memorable parable, we can learn four specific lessons about how we can demonstrate mercy. In the next four devotionals we���ll look at each of those important lessons.

Three Responses to People in Need

Probably the most famous story in the Bible about unexpected kindness is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told this story to show us what it looks like to love people who are hurting. It���s easy to feel a little guilty when we read this story. At one time or another, we have all passed by somebody in need. The needs of people around us, even in our church or small group, can be so overwhelming that it���s paralyzing. And we ask the question, ���What am I supposed to do?���

Living for Heaven���s Sake

Heaven changes everything about how you live today. If you���re headed to Heaven (and after yesterday���s devotional, I hope you are), then that reality should impact how you live here on earth.

Unraveling the Mystery of Heaven

My family lived in Northern California when I was a little boy. One time we took a family vacation to Disneyland in Southern California. As we were driving, my dad tried to explain to me what Disneyland would be like. It was a waste of time. You can���t understand Disneyland unless you experience it.

The Cross Says ���Let It Go���

Forgiveness is free. But it���s not cheap. It cost Jesus Christ his life. And it���s also not easy. Forgiveness can only occur when the offended person volunteers to assume the debt and not to get even or seek revenge. That���s what Jesus did for us. That���s what he calls us to do for others.