July 29, 2024
Melissa Valerio
Compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.
There is a problem when we see someone in need and feel nothing more than pity for them. Sort of like a “Aww, you poor thing” attitude, but nothing beyond that. Nothing that will actually move us to do anything about it. Why do we do that? Why don’t we want to get our hands dirty and help someone that truly needs it? We don’t have time? We have our own issues to deal with? We don’t know them that well? None of these excuses stopped Jesus. And if I want to be more like Him, I need to think more like Him.
- Having no time is no excuse. In John 11, we read that Lazarus’ sickness led to death. Jesus defies natural law and actually reverses those events by bringing Lazarus back to life.
- Dealing with our own issues is no excuse. In Mathew 14:13-15, we read that Jesus intended to go to a private place to grieve His cousin’s death, but when He saw a great gathering of people who desired to be healed, He was moved with compassion and healed them.
- Not knowing them well is no excuse. Most of the people Jesus healed were strangers to Him.
There are countless stories in both the Old and New Testaments of God’s compassion on man. This attribute of God originates from His love. Without love, we cannot have compassion. It’s one thing to feel sorry for someone, but it’s quite another to be moved so deeply that you take some kind of action to alleviate that discomfort for them. That’s the compassion God has for us — we see it from the Garden to the Cross; and from the Cross into you and me, every single day. We may be the only Jesus that some people see. Let’s show them God’s compassionate heart.
Prayer: God in Heaven, nothing is more compassionate than when You provided Your son for our salvation. You judge righteously, yet You also show mercy and compassion. Help us reflect that same compassion on others. Move us into action, to help someone that needs it. In Your precious Son’s name, Amen.
Action: Read and memorize Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NKJV). Compassion is what moves God toward the brokenhearted. If you’re currently in a season of brokenness, lean even more into Jesus now. This is the binding time. His tender mercies are at work this very moment.