10/10/2024
The subject of my devotional reading this morning was spiritual compassion, and the scriptural reference used to lead into this topic was Psalm 112:4. This Psalm begins by speaking about the characteristics of a man that fears the Lord and upholds His commandments. The psalmist lists things like prosperity, righteousness and fearlessness, and then builds to the apex of the message which is compassion. At this point the Psalm goes on to define a "good man" and each illustration given centers on compassion. Compassion is the true message of Psalm 112, and goes hand in hand with righteousness.
“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.”
Psalm 112:4
Pastor E.M. Bounds called this "Spiritual Compassion" and went on to say "This compassion has in it the quality of mercy, is sympathetic, and moves the soul with a feeling of tenderness for others." he concluded that this "Compassion is moved at the sight of sin, sorrow, and suffering." Aren’t both the hearts, and spirits, of Christians moved when they see someone suffering, and drowning in sin? Jesus reached out to many who hadn’t heard His message, but He continued to reach out in “Spiritual Compassion” to those who already believed as well; just as He did on the water to the Apostle Peter…
“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
Matthew 14:28-32
The gospel message is one of love, and God's “Spiritual Compassion” for the fallen state of humanity. In this way the gospel message is central to all missions work, and although it drives us to drill wells, feed the hungry, house the homeless, and give hope to many through our deeds, all of these things could be done by a godless man with a sympathetic heart. What sets the Lord’s missionaries apart from those moral unbelievers is a missionary’s "Spiritual Compassion" which goes further than a basic need to address physical sorrow and suffering... It leads the righteous to address the very sin in a person’s life through the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Mark 16:15 ESV
Here is an illustration that can bring clarity to the difference... Maimonides, a Spanish philosopher, is quoted as saying "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This is a moral message. But in the life of Jesus we see him go a step further. After He had given a fish, and had taught men to fish, He went beyond those things; He prepared them to provide for and teach, others to be fishers of men, and in this way He fed man’s body, mind, and soul, for eternity. This is "Spiritual Compassion", and it reveals itself in acts of mercy and grace as it saves not just the physical man, but the soul as well. We read this in two wonderful verses which follow Mark 16:15…
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”
Mark 16:16, 20 ESV
So do we exhibit the trait of “Spiritual Compassion”, or have we limited ourselves to performing physical acts alone?
Father, give us a spiritual compassion towards those who suffer or are afflicted by sin. Help us Lord to reach out to them with the good news of scripture, even as we are lifting them up in those things we can provide ourselves. Give us a compassion for the souls we come in contact today, as you have demonstrated your compassion for us.
Prayer:
Father thank you for you’re the earthly compassion we feel for others and the acts of kindness we do for them, but thank you all the more for the “Spiritual Compassion” that you have instilled in us, and which we feel for their souls, and their eternal salvation. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who demonstrated how we should live out our lives showing others in the world your divine compassion, and then instructed us to reach out to every Nation, and to the ends of the world, as we share it. Help us merciful Father to overcome our shortcomings by reaching for the outstretched hand of Jesus when our faith is waning. Help us Abba to not only feel your divine compassion, but to act on it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gave us your Word, and then your Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, that we might not suffer, and die, but be redeemed from sin, and reunited with you in eternal glory. Holy are you who shows us those souls who haven’t heard the good news of your Son Jesus, and those believers who are fading in their faith and need a compassionate arm about their shoulders. Call us anew into your service Father, and awaken us every new day to a fresh and invigorated sense of compassion for the world.
Amen.
“20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.””
Lamentations 3:20-24 ESV
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Colossians 3:12-13 ESV
Rich Forbes