Unleashing Compassion: God’s Love In A Hurting World
In a world teeming with strife and division, the call to Christian compassion has never been more critical. Yet, in the hustle of daily life and amidst the din of conflicting voices, it’s all too easy to lose sight of this fundamental tenet of our faith. The question then beckons with a gentle yet piercing urgency: Where is your compassion?
Jesus did some outlandish things in His earth walk:
(a) Drive the sellers in the synagogue out with whips turning over their tables.
(b) Heal the blind man by spitting in the mud and making a paste out of it.
(c) Leaving his parents to chat with the elders when he was but a boy.
But his greatest character in my opinion was the compassion He had towards people.
The Compass of Christ’s Love
The life of Jesus Christ is a beacon of unconditional love and compassion. He walked among the needy, healed the sick, comforted the sorrowful, and welcomed the outcast.
His actions were a living testament to the command found in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” In donning the cloak of compassion, we are called not just to feel deeply, but to move into action as Christ did.
Love in Action
Compassion, by its very nature, demands action. It’s not enough to merely feel pity or sadness for someone else’s plight; true compassion involves an empathetic understanding and a willingness to act to alleviate another’s suffering.
It might mean reaching out to a neighbor who is going through a tough time, volunteering at a local charity, or simply offering a listening ear to someone in need. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, is a reflection of God’s love.
The Challenge of Modern Compassion
In today’s digital age, we are constantly bombarded with images and stories of suffering and injustice from around the globe. This constant stream can lead to fatigue, where the sheer scale of problems feels overwhelming.
Yet, this is precisely where our Christian calling becomes most vital. We are reminded in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Our compassion is needed, now more than ever.
Cultivating A Compassionate Heart
Cultivating a caring heart requires intentional practice. It begins with prayer, asking God to open our eyes to the needs around us and to fill our hearts with His love.
It involves studying Scripture, to understand more deeply Christ’s example of love and compassion. And it includes reflection, taking stock of our attitudes and actions, and asking ourselves if they reflect the compassion of Christ.
Are We Too Busy?
Sometimes I think that as Christians we are too busy with our lives – with the activities of being a Christian (like playing music for your church, preaching, singing) that we don’t take the time to see that there’s a world dying out here and we are not reaching people or making a difference to them.
How can we preach or sing to people who are hungry, have nothing to wear, no job, and no money for school or bills or the basic amenities that we enjoy? The reason that Jesus met the peoples’ needs was so that He could then show them the love of God.
The compassion that the Lord expects from us should be just like His – not of words but of deeds. I encourage you today to step out of the box and be compassionate towards people – help someone cross the road, let someone who is busy walk in front of you, share your lunch, smile with someone, say a kind word – you never know what your act of compassion can do for that person.
May God’s wisdom fill us as we go about our daily lives today, Amen.