Compassion is suffering with another person with love in our hearts.
Compassion is seeing Christ in the countenance of the weary, the tempted, the helpless, the sorrowful, the ignorant, and all sinners. We have all sinned and are saved only by the mercy and compassion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Compassion is loving the unloved. Jesus told us "in the way that you have treated one of the least of these, this is the way you have treated me." (See Matthew 25:40)
A God without compassion is nothing more than an idol. The God that Jesus revealed is always willing to walk with us, lead us, and even carry us over any stumbling block that Satan may put in our path. When we realize how much God grieves for the suffering of his creation -- so much that He ransomed and redeemed any sinner who would respond to His love and compassion --
From a small band of twelve dedicated disciples and Paul, the apostle, the church grew rapidly to tell all the known world of a different kind of religion. It was a religion that they had never heard of or known before--one of a loving and compassionate Savior who died for the sins of the whole world. They overcame the persecution, torture, and rejection by the religious priests and rabbis of their time. They overcame with love and compassion as they continually walked the pathway with Christ.
When Jesus chose to come into our world love and compassion were almost extinct. The Roman Empire was the most cruel and inhumane power that had ever ruled up to that time. Torture and death were the main sports in the arenas. People were used as human torches and crucifixions were the common form of execution. Even government institutions and their pagan religious practices held no morals -- no sense of right and wrong.
The Jews, who claimed to know God and considered themselves "the chosen people", believed that those who were not a part of their religious group were excluded from God's favor and compassion. They had the form of religion, but denied the love of God to everyone but themselves. They had a religion of works and exclusiveness. They equated success with the favor and blessing of God while sickness and troubles they considered to be the result of personal sins.
HOME
The Pathway of Trust
The Pathway of Forgiving
The Pathway of Service
The
Pathway of Perseverance
The Pathway of Love
The Pathway of Compassion
The Pathway of Prayer
This parable emphasizes the meaning of true compassion. Jesus made it clear to the lawyer that anyone who is in trouble and needs help is our neighbor.
Jesus is saying that just claiming to be religious isn't enough. Our actions demonstrate who we are. Our neighbor isn't just our family or friends or the people next door. Our neighbor is anyone we see that needs love and attention -- anyone who is lonely or outcast. We show love and compassion to anyone in need. We love by doing.
The Priests and Levites that represented the religious establishment when Jesus was on earth were so concerned with keeping the letter of the law that they lost sight of the principles of love and compassion found in God's law -- to love your neighbor as yourself. By losing their compassion for their neighbors, they ceased to understand God's compassion for them.
The life of Jesus was a life of compassion -- healing the afflicted, feeding the hungry multitude, comforting the sorrowful, and
As we walk with on this pathway with Christ, knowing we are saved by His compassion for us, let us bring forth the fruit of compassion to those we meet every day. And remember the words of Jesus:
"The God
that Jesus revealed is always willing to walk with
us, lead us,
and even
carry us . . ."
then we respond with
compassion for our fellow man.
Of course, our compassion for others is by no means a way of salvation. Our actions are never a means of salvation. But when we walk with Christ and see His love and compassion we desire to live the same way.
forgiving sinners. By paying in full the penalties of our debts incurred by sin through the sacrifice of His own life, He took our sins on Himself.
HOME
The Pathway of Trust
The Pathway of Forgiving
The Pathway of Service
The
Pathway of Perseverance
The Pathway of Love
The Pathway of Compassion
The Pathway of Prayer
THE PATHWAY OF COMPASSION
THE PATHWAY OF COMPASSION
Therefore, as
God's chosen
people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience.
Colossians 3:12, NIV
Therefore, as
God's chosen
people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience.
Colossians 3:12, NIV
A lawyer once asked Christ the question, "who is my neighbor?" They had been talking about how to inherit eternal life. Jesus confirmed that to love God with all your heart and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself was the standard for living.
When Jesus talked with people His favorite way to get a point across was to tell a story or parable. His parables helped illustrate the meaning of what He was saying.
One parable He told was about a man who was attacked by thieves. He was robbed, beaten and left half dead by the side of the road.
A priest walked by, saw the injured man and conveniently crossed the road and passed by on the other side.
Next, a Levite walked by, saw the injured man and conveniently crossed the road and passed by on the other side.
Then a Samaritan walked by, and when he saw the injured man he had compassion on him. He treated and bandaged his wounds, lifted him to his own animal, and took him to a room in a nearby Inn. He paid for his room and arranged for someone to take care of the wounded man until he could return and care for him himself.
Jesus asked, "Which of these three men was the neighbor of the man who fell among thieves?" The answer was, "He that showed compassion for him and did something about it." Then Jesus said, "Go and do the same." This story is told in Luke 10:25-27.
Finally, all
of you, live in harmony wth one another;
be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
