10/12/2024
We each have a common compassion for others, but the question this morning is this; do we have the compassion of Christ?
As I read my devotional this morning and concluded by reading James 2, it became clear to me that the compassion of Jesus plays a major part in translating our faith into action, or as it states in the bible… works. It leads us to not only ask God to come to someone's aid in prayer, but softens our hearts, prompting us to exhibit that selfsame mercy by helping them as well. Do we demonstrate the compassion off Christ in our everyday lives?
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
James 2:15-16 KJV
Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote of these two forms of compassion and the sadness of their lacking in us in this way...
"But spiritual compassion, the kind born in a renewed heart that is Christlike in nature, is deeper, broader, and more prayerlike. The compassion of Christ always moves to prayer. Compassion is not blind. He who has compassion of the soul has eyes, first of all to see the things that excite compassion. He who has no eyes to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the wants and the sorrows of humanity, will never have compassion for humanity." - E. M. Bounds
Jesus not only realized the sad and sinful state of humanity but He did something about it; he not only had compassion for the blind and lame, but He healed them. How is it then that, within our own abilities, we can see those same sorrows and walk right by them, giving them only a quick prayer? We call these mercies, and read about them in Matthew 25. These verses are commonly referred to as “The Mercies”, but are prompted by compassion.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”
Matthew 25:35-36 ESV
The compassion of Christ should lead us not only to pray, but into action. As Pastor Bounds observed... it should flow from the opening of the eyes of our souls. The compassion of Jesus is holy and far beyond the common form of compassion with which we are born; it comes with our being filled with God’s Holy Word, Belief in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The compassion of Christ represents a changed life... a holy rebirth. Does our compassion bear witness to our transformation in Christ?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Lord, fill us today with the compassion of Christ; open the eyes of our souls so that we might see the needs of humanity in much the same way as Jesus. Then Father, move us to action as we seek to demonstrate by our humble efforts your amazing grace and mercy. Lead us to call upon you for the grander efforts Lord; those that are beyond our ability. Holy Father, allow our hearts to break as we see the sinfulness of the world around us, and give us direction as we work within your will to do our part in curing it.
Prayer:
Father thank you for your compassion and love for us. Thank you for the merciful compassion of Christ that you have not only showed to us, but have filled us with upon our believing, and transformation. Thank you for your grace, the love it brings out in us, and how it demonstrates unto mankind, and to all of creation, the compassion that you will us to have. Lord, fill us today with the loving mercy of Christ; open the eyes of our souls so that we might see the needs of humanity in much the same way that He does. Then Father, move us to act as we humbly exhibit our compassionate mercies, and lead us to call upon you for the grander solutions, which are beyond our ability without your help. Holy Father, allow our hearts to break as we see the sinfulness, and sorrowful condition of the world around us, and give us direction as we work within your will to do our part in curing this suffering. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who sent your only begotten Son Jesus to redeem the sin of the world, take away the sting of death, and ease the groaning and suffering of man. Holy are you who allows us the divine privilege of taking part in the work of Christ as we spread the good news that is His gospel, and feed His lambs, tend His flock, and as they grow to maturity… to feed His sheep. Abba, open the eyes of our souls, and allow us to see clearly the suffering of the world, and to find our place in your will as we obediently take part in it by doing what is needed to ease it. Bless us Father as we serve and mercifully bless others. Lord, we pray that you will judge us worthy in Christ of spending eternity in your presence where we will love you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength… and will never neglect to love your children as ourselves, and as Christ has shown us.
Amen
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
““You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.””
Leviticus 19:17-18 ESV
“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””
Mark 12:28-31
“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
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Matthew 6:22-23 ESV
Rich Forbes