Compassion Is All About The Lord!

Compassion: Suffering with another; to spare; to have deep sympathy, pity, love, mercy

Let me take a few minutes to share with you the Lord's deep sympathy, His love, and His mercy. I know we all know the story about Jonah and the great fish. Did you also know that he didn’t want to go and preach to the people of Nineveh? In his defense, the people of Nineveh were very wicked people who had no regard for the Lord. The city was noted for its cruelty and violence. Jonah felt they deserved to be punished - just as many of us would feel - but God, in His great compassion, sent them a warning - via Jonah and his preaching. Those wicked people repented, and God did not punish them. How compassionate and merciful is our God?! He wants to forgive us - and will if we would just repent.

The Lord also gave us an example of compassion through His touch. His willingness to touch others, to heal the sick with that touch is evident in Mark 1:40-41: "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."

In order for us to learn compassion, we must turn to the source of it - the Master Teacher who demonstrates His mercy and compassion to us daily, just as He did when we were still sinners. Even though we were unworthy, He made us worthy. Even though we were/are sinners, He made us righteous. Even though we may occasionally find ourselves in the kingdom of darkness, He transfers us into the kingdom of light. It's simply God’s nature to show compassion - His heart is full of it and He wants the hearts of His people to be like His own. He wants us to have that kind, loving feeling that results in kind and helpful actions towards others; while expecting nothing in return. If you're lacking compassion - simply go to the source and ask for it!

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and Amen!