Compassion

3/20/2011

Compassion

Yes God, I’m listening.

Definition of Compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Do you see that second part? ‘together with a desire to alleviate it’ It is not enough to just have sympathy and FEEL, by definition compassion calls us to action as we work towards alleviating the pain of others. (EVEN SELF INFLICTED PAIN!)

Jesus says, Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? Matthew 18:33 (King James Version)

Luke 15:11-32, the story of the prodigal son, resonates deep in me. It is a story I read a LOT. It is a story that offers me comfort and hope for my OWN shortcomings and faults, and it also offers me comfort and hope as a parent.

Along with comfort, it is a great teacher of what compassion should look like:

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 (NIV)

The story goes on to say that the son confessed his sins to his father and said, ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son’ feeling instead that he should be like one of the hired servants. His father does not dismiss him nor condemn him. His father does not lecture him by telling him how wrong he has been, what horrible choices he has made, how he got himself into this mess, how it was his own fault. There is no look of disapproval, no punishment. And his father does not make him a slave!

Instead his father dresses him in the finest robe, jewelry, and sandals; slaughters the best of his meat and throws a celebration worthy of kings. ‘Let us eat and be merry.’ His father then instructs his ‘obedient brother’ to put aside his jealousy and anger, to replace it with a glad heart and come join the celebration because his ‘lost’ brother has now been ‘found’ - he was dead, but now alive.

What an amazing display of compassion. What a valuable lesson on how I am to treat people – ALL people, but how much more so my own children?

What a great tool on how to deal only with the positives. His father could have looked at the negative lifestyle, the squandering of all the material things, the bad decisions, but instead he CELEBRATED a LIFE RETURNED!

The lesson of compassion has been coming at me from all sides.

I am grateful.

It is very liberating.

Not only as a way to deal with others, I am free to just love them; but also as I see God dealing with me. It is so comforting and there is something so safe in thinking God has compassion towards me.

That means ‘God has a sympathetic consciousness of MY distress together with a desire to alleviate it’!

He feels the same way about YOU!

That is compassion!

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17 (KJV)

Thank you Father for compassion, Thank you for loving us, your prodigal children, to the point of calling the heavens into a celebration when we return to You. Thank you for loving me and desiring to alleviate my distress. That is so powerful to me. In spite of my wickedness, You continue to offer me the best of Your love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and Your grace and glory. Search me; search my heart, my mind, my today and my tomorrow. Empty the negative and my flesh’s fixation with it, and replace in me the positive, replace in me love, compassion, mercy; replace me with all things YOU. You are faithful, You are Glorious!! I lift my praise to you! I humbly bow down before you. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:31(KJV) …whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God!

Be blessed and know that Jesus ADORES you! And so do I!