Moved With Compassion

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12

What moves you to compassion?  Compassion is aroused within us when we are confronted with people who are suffering or are vulnerable.  We demonstrate our compassion when we attempt to alleviate the hardship and suffering of those Christ places in our path.  Let’s not let our hearts become hardened.  God desires us to be compassionate.  Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He demonstrated compassion to those He came in contact with – the helpless, the sick, the hungry, the blind, and the lost.  God is calling us to demonstrate compassion.  In today’s world there seems to be a lack of compassion.  God makes it clear in His Word that we are not to conform to the ways of this world.  Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world…  Almighty God desires for His children to be compassionate to others.  Be attentive to those that cross your path who God is calling you to reach out to with compassion. 

In John 4, we see Jesus moved with compassion towards the woman at the well.  Jesus knew the Samaritan woman was attempting to fill the void in her life with relationships that were morally improper.  Jesus took the time to share with this woman about the “living water” that only the true Messiah could give.  He explained to her that this “living water” wells up to eternal life.  John 4:14 – Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  Many people we come in contact with are attempting to fill a void that only Jesus Christ is capable of filling.  Have compassion and share with others the “living water” which gives eternal life – Jesus Christ. 

We notice throughout Scripture that Jesus crossed all barriers to share the gospel.  In John 4, the woman at the well was a Samaritan, a member of a hated mixed race.  She was living in sin and was in a public place.  No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman under these circumstances.  But Jesus, moved with compassion, took the time to share the Gospel with the Samaritan woman.  Are you willing to cross all barriers to share the Gospel Message with a lost and dying world?  If we are to live our lives and minister to others as Jesus did, we will cross any barrier to share the Gospel Message with those He places in our path. 

In Luke 10:25-37, we see another demonstration of compassion.  A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was severally attacked and left for dead on the side of the road.  A priest and a Levite traveled by and did not reach out to help the wounded man.  No ounce of compassion was demonstrated by the religious.  Along came a Samaritan, who demonstrated his sense of compassion by tending the wounds of the injured man and also taking him to a safe place to recover.  Those who claimed to be religious showed no compassion for the one in need.  Even though we are children of Almighty God, we can allow our hearts to become hardened and when the occasion presents itself, we too might not offer compassion to a person in need.  Prayerfully ask God to soften your heart to those in need.  God desires us to be compassionate to those in need.  1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us desire to demonstrate compassion to others just as You did.  I pray that our hearts will not become hardened to those who are hurting and in need.  Help us be attentive to those You place in our path.  Many in our world today are in need of compassion.  Equip us LORD to show compassion to others.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.