Compassion Seeks the Road Less Traveled

Monday, August 26, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Matthew 15:32, Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”  

2 Corinthians 1:3, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Love and compassion are the highest and best motivating factors in our lives. Compassion also provides a foundation for developing courage. Many of the most courageous people in history and in our time were and are people of great compassion. Jesus Christ is our best example of compassion and courage.

People in history like Harriett Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa possessed great courage through compassion. Everyday people and believers in Christ like Antoinette Tuff had compassion and courage to save lives by helping troubled people from doing horrible things.

People in my life, such as my late mother Gaynell Hudson, became courageous through compassion. As a minister, she went to places and served people who were difficult to help. A lot of ministry today is occupied with blessed people, ministering to blessed people. It does not require much courage to "have church." Much of the compassion we need to impact the most pressing needs in our nation and world for Christ goes unrealized. It seems that we have become more engaged with "fluff" than holy fire.

Jesus Inside Prison Ministry founded by my friend and colleague, Pastor William Bumphus, has been turning men from crime to Christ for more than 30 years. While the national rate of recidivism (men returning to crime after incarceration) is over 40%, Pastor Bumphus' Jesus House program as achieved a recidivism rate of only 5%. Compassion and courage empower Pastor Bumphus to help transform some of the most dangerous men in our nation, week after week, year after year.

Compassion seeks the "roads less traveled." Self-interest has created a traffic jam on the well traveled roads we see today.

It took courage for Jesus to "stand still" and listen to the pleas of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Back in those days people who were physically disabled were considered "cursed" and not worthy of recognition and dignity. Jesus showed courage through compassion by breaking with the status quo and social norm of his day to love an "untouchable" like Bartimaeus and many others.

Compassion brings the comfort and help of God on the scene. This is what causes us to have courage in difficult situations, even when the emotion of fear is present.  Our "Comforter," the Holy Spirit, works with us providing help (courage & power) to face all needs and challenges.

Along with the lifestyle of compassion comes great joy and fulfillment in life!
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Listen to my message: "How Compassion Develops Courage" from Firm Foundation Podcast


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Hope is a Choice

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Bryan Hudson 2 Comments


Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

J.B. Phillips translation says: “...Christ in you, the hope of all glorious things to come.” This reveals that every hope that God has put in your heart will have a glorious manifestation. Nothing in God is mediocre or insignificant.

The key to realizing the “hope of glory” is to know that Jesus lives on the inside of us and desires to express Himself in fulfillment of every hope.

Hope is not based on circumstances, but our interpretation of the outcome of circumstances. Like the 12 spies in Numbers 13: Either you interpret the "giants" are stronger than you, or you interpret that you are "well able" with God's help to overcome giant-type obstacles.

Hope is a choice. Choose well.

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Garage Doors, Springs, & God

Wednesday, August 07, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


The spring on our garage door broke last night. I had no idea about the actual weight of the door until I had to lift the door WITHOUT the aid of the springs! I thought about how blessed we are to have the power of God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) to carry the weight of our lives, our families, our ministries, and all the circumstances that challenge us! Thank you Jesus for your strength!

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Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Wednesday, August 07, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Ephesians 1:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Recent events have reminded us that life is short and full of challenge. Even those things that we have done well for a long time, when you look back, seem like just yesterday.

For some people, things that they wanted to do never got done. In some cases, the difficulty and evil of our day consumed people or distracted them from their higher purpose. Even believers can get sidetracked when they do not practice the principle of putting the kingdom of God first and seeking his righteousness.

As the apostle Paul wrote, we must "make the most of every opportunity." The King James Version says "redeem the time." The Greek word used for "time" does not refer to the time of day (chronos), but to divine opportunity and higher purpose (kairos).

Now is the time to obey the Lord, think clearly, be faithful to his heart, give generously, help the people you can help, and maximize your abilities, resources, and training.

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