Psalm 127 compares children with arrows. And the same comparison could apply to any of us, whatever our age. That’s because we have to aim in the right direction to hit the target of a close walk with God. We need to be focused on Him, whatever’s happening around us. When we’re aiming in the wrong direction, we’re much more likely to fall and become involved in harmful habits or destructive lifestyles that don’t honour God and cause pain to ourselves. Broken arrows come in all forms. Pain isn’t prejudiced; it doesn’t spare any age group, cultural background, or social position. Just as we all have potential to do great things with God, we also have the potential to fall. So it’s vital to have support, and to be supportive of others in their journey. Romans 15:1 tells us, ‘We who are strong in faith should help the weak with their weaknesses’ (NCV). Whatever someone’s particular weakness is, we should be compassionate. When the disciples thought they would die in the storm, they didn’t challenge Jesus’ power, they challenged His compassion, saying, ‘don’t you care that we are drowning?’ (Mark 4:38 NCV). Without compassion, there would be no miracles, no healing, and no ministry. One author wrote: ‘Church is not a club for the well-heeled, but a hospital for those needing to be healed and set free. You don’t have to like everything about the people you’re called to minister to, but you do have to love them because God does.’ We’ve been called to gather up all the broken arrows, those people that the world has thrown away, because every single person matter to God: ‘“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels”’ (Malachi 3:17 NKJV).Tuesday 21 February
