Show Compassion
For the past the past few weeks, our world has been rocked by a series of devastating catastrophes – earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, mudslides, and tornadoes. Thousands have lost their lives, and untold millions have lost relatives, their homes and their jobs. The psychological and emotional impact on many will be so deep that they will never fully recover from what they have seen and experienced.
We have experienced these events from afar. We have seen the videos of parents trying to hold on to their children as they were ripped from their grasp and swept out to sea, leaving them with nothing but an empty shirt in their hands. We have seen pictures of victims breaking down emotionally as they recounted and relived what they had been through. The images of the devastation and loss we have seen on television perhaps have tugged at our heartstrings. We, too, may have felt a little of their pain. But the pain we felt and the pain the victims have felt pale into insignificance when compared to what inhabitants of planet earth will feel when this whole planet is rocking and reeling with the terrible cataclysms prophesied for the end of this age.
All of these events – those happening now and those to come – forcibly show us one of the fundamental needs that humans have. They also help us see one of God’s character traits – a character trait we must acquire as we take on the very nature of God. Human beings who are in pain, those who have suffered through devastating losses, and those who are plagued by human weaknesses all need compassion – compassion from God and compassion from man.
The Bible tells us that the Eternal “is gracious and full of compassion” (Psalms 145:8). The New Testament records a number of events when Christ was “moved with compassion” for the sick and for the multitudes who were suffering or weak. If God the Father and Jesus Christ are full of compassion and moved with compassion, then so must we be.
What Is Compassion?
Compassion: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition, 2000.)
The Greek and Hebrew words translated “compassion” also indicate deep feelings coming from the inner core of a person’s being.
God wants humans to know His Law – to have it ingrained in our minds. But, having that knowledge is not enough. We must also have God’s Law written on the tablets of our hearts. The scribes and Pharisees knew what the Bible said, but they did not have it in their hearts. They knew the letter of the law, but they could not apply it in how they treated others. If we have God’s Law in our hearts, it will be shown by our actions. Having and feeling compassion demonstrates the application of God’s law of love.
How has God demonstrated His compassion?
Psalms 78:38-39
38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath;
39 For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.
When Christ was moved with compassion, what did He do? He healed the sick (Matthew 14:14); He gave sight to the blind (Matthew 20:34); and He fed the multitudes who were tired and hungry (Matthew 18:27).
Who must we have compassion towards?
Two of the most quoted parables that Jesus gave tell us about showing compassion.
Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan)
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead… 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Having compassion means that we take care of the physical needs of others and that we show mercy to those who need it.
Luke 15:17-24 (The Prodigal Son)
17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
This parable shows that those who are weak and who have made foolish mistakes need compassion. This parable shows how eager God, our Father, is to extend His compassion and mercy towards us. And He wants us to do the same towards others.
Peter tells us that compassion is a trait we must develop and demonstrate.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this...
Paul wrote about a benefit of having a high priest (Jesus Christ) who was a human.
Hebrews 5:2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
God is full of compassion as He looks on us. He remembers that we are but humans. Christ was moved with compassion when He saw the diseases, the hunger, and the weaknesses of the disciples and the multitude that followed Him. We too must be compassionate. We must see others as God sees them; we must treat them as God is ready to treat them.
After the world has experienced the terrible events of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, those humans who are left will need compassion. When the billions come up in the Great White Throne Judgement, each and every one will need someone to look on them with compassion – not seeing their weaknesses and the hideous sins they have committed. God wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of His truth – Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Osama Bin Laden. For them to become a Son of God, someone is going to have to have compassion towards them.
Peter says we were called for this. We are called to have compassion. So, dear friends, as we live this life, let’s develop the character of God and let’s show compassion.
We have experienced these events from afar. We have seen the videos of parents trying to hold on to their children as they were ripped from their grasp and swept out to sea, leaving them with nothing but an empty shirt in their hands. We have seen pictures of victims breaking down emotionally as they recounted and relived what they had been through. The images of the devastation and loss we have seen on television perhaps have tugged at our heartstrings. We, too, may have felt a little of their pain. But the pain we felt and the pain the victims have felt pale into insignificance when compared to what inhabitants of planet earth will feel when this whole planet is rocking and reeling with the terrible cataclysms prophesied for the end of this age.
All of these events – those happening now and those to come – forcibly show us one of the fundamental needs that humans have. They also help us see one of God’s character traits – a character trait we must acquire as we take on the very nature of God. Human beings who are in pain, those who have suffered through devastating losses, and those who are plagued by human weaknesses all need compassion – compassion from God and compassion from man.
The Bible tells us that the Eternal “is gracious and full of compassion” (Psalms 145:8). The New Testament records a number of events when Christ was “moved with compassion” for the sick and for the multitudes who were suffering or weak. If God the Father and Jesus Christ are full of compassion and moved with compassion, then so must we be.
What Is Compassion?
Compassion: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition, 2000.)
The Greek and Hebrew words translated “compassion” also indicate deep feelings coming from the inner core of a person’s being.
God wants humans to know His Law – to have it ingrained in our minds. But, having that knowledge is not enough. We must also have God’s Law written on the tablets of our hearts. The scribes and Pharisees knew what the Bible said, but they did not have it in their hearts. They knew the letter of the law, but they could not apply it in how they treated others. If we have God’s Law in our hearts, it will be shown by our actions. Having and feeling compassion demonstrates the application of God’s law of love.
How has God demonstrated His compassion?
Psalms 78:38-39
38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath;
39 For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.
When Christ was moved with compassion, what did He do? He healed the sick (Matthew 14:14); He gave sight to the blind (Matthew 20:34); and He fed the multitudes who were tired and hungry (Matthew 18:27).
Who must we have compassion towards?
Two of the most quoted parables that Jesus gave tell us about showing compassion.
Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan)
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead… 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Having compassion means that we take care of the physical needs of others and that we show mercy to those who need it.
Luke 15:17-24 (The Prodigal Son)
17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
This parable shows that those who are weak and who have made foolish mistakes need compassion. This parable shows how eager God, our Father, is to extend His compassion and mercy towards us. And He wants us to do the same towards others.
Peter tells us that compassion is a trait we must develop and demonstrate.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this...
Paul wrote about a benefit of having a high priest (Jesus Christ) who was a human.
Hebrews 5:2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
God is full of compassion as He looks on us. He remembers that we are but humans. Christ was moved with compassion when He saw the diseases, the hunger, and the weaknesses of the disciples and the multitude that followed Him. We too must be compassionate. We must see others as God sees them; we must treat them as God is ready to treat them.
After the world has experienced the terrible events of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, those humans who are left will need compassion. When the billions come up in the Great White Throne Judgement, each and every one will need someone to look on them with compassion – not seeing their weaknesses and the hideous sins they have committed. God wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of His truth – Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Osama Bin Laden. For them to become a Son of God, someone is going to have to have compassion towards them.
Peter says we were called for this. We are called to have compassion. So, dear friends, as we live this life, let’s develop the character of God and let’s show compassion.
Original message composed on January 15, 2005
posted by Manuel at 4:24 PM
2 Comments:
So... are you going to post ALL of your old sermonettes on here?
lol
Beware - this activity is addictive!
No, just those from the "Greatest Hits" archive. LOL
Well, the Work has to be done you know - even if it is preaching to the choir. And some have not been graced with hearing (or reading) the missives.
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