In my heart check post last week I talked about compassion. God has
been calling me to this heart check for a time now. I never fully understood
what compassion meant and I really struggle with being compassionate under
certain circumstances.
If you knew me before God took control of my life, this would make
complete sense.
A Command:
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The funny thing about compassion is I am blessed. When I close my eyes and think about
those with less I have compassion. Is compassion not feeling sorry and wanting
to help those less fortunate than me?
How sad it must make god that I can be compassionate about a stranger
suffering and miss the mark so much with my family?
Psalm
145:9
The LORD is good to all;
he has
compassion on all he has made.
Jesus was compassionate no matter a person’s position in life. Rich,
poor, homeless, sinner and all had his compassion. Jesus was not born to the
Kings and Queens of this world but He humbly came into this world as a
carpenter’s son.
Mark 1:40-42
A man with leprosy came to him and
begged him on his knees,
“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Filled with compassion,
Jesus
reached out his hand and touched the man.
“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
A Look at my glaring lack of compassions:
We were going to the bike store, since he has been faithfully riding
eleven miles to work each day we have decided to get booties for his bicycle
shoes.
Yes, it seemed to me like a frivolous purchase to me. We were
considering paying money for plastic covers for his bicycle shoes when other
things could be done with that money.
Luke 7:37-38
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in
that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an
alabaster jar of perfume, and
as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her
tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on
them.
My husband rides his bike eleven miles one-way. It is an hour ride.
He leaves for work at 5:30 a.m. It is usually cold and dark. He does this
so he can provide a comfortable life for his wife and children. He does this so
I can stay home with the boys and we can have choices.
Matthew
15:32
Jesus called his disciples to him
and said,
“I have compassion for these people;
they have already been with me
three days and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry, or
they may collapse on the way.”
His perception is different from mine, I tend to be a bit extreme,
and he balances me. He deserves my compassion and God is teaching me how to
give it.
Mark
6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd,
he had
compassion on them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
So he
began teaching them many things.
Jesus had compassion on me in my blessed life. He died on the cross
so that I could have life to the full. In this season of lent we are doing a
spending fast, the essential only. Still I need to compassion.
I may tow a hard line but when I repent I just do it. Here are some
of the things God lead me to do to find my compassion.
Tens ways to be more compassionate:
1. Know the true meaning of compassion. Use a dictionary to define
the word.
2. Study Jesus' example of compassion, they are eight verses that
use compassion in reference to Jesus.
3. Do a bible word study of compassion. In the NIV there are 74 references for compassion.
4. Pray for a compassionate heart toward those in your life. We over
come so many things only by the power of pray.
5. Respect the other's person point of view. You will never know what
life is like for another person.
6. Love them where they are. Not every one is ready to cut off their
arm and throw it into the fire to be saved.
Hebrews 5:12-14
In fact, though by this time you ought to be
teachers,
you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all
over again.
You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature,
who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
7. Stop judging based on what they have
“Do not judge, and you
will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and
you will be forgiven.
8. Stop and listen to
the trials of others.
Matthew 20:32-34
Jesus stopped and called
them.
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our
sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and
touched their eyes.
Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
9. Be honest. Jesus also
shared his perspective on our world as he taught.
Ephesians
4:14-16
Then we will no longer be infants,
tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here and there by every wind of
teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in
love,
we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body,
joined and
held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work.
10. Allow yourself some grace.
Choosing to be more compassionate at home, what about you!
