Today's Word for Monday April 1, 2013
COMPASSION
DEFINITION:
A feeling of deep sympathy; sorrow for
someone struck by misfortune; a desire to alleviate suffering.
SCRIPTURE:
For He who has mercy on them will lead
them, even by the springs of water He will guide them. Isaiah 49:10
But He, being full of compassion,
forgave their iniquity. Psalm 78:38.
But when He saw the multitudes, He was
moved to compassion for them. Matthew 9:36.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We are living in a world today where very
few people have compassion for someone in need. It is a "ME" world
where the one person that one cares about is himself or herself. You constantly
hear of someone leaving the scene of an accident or ignoring the call of a
neighbor. Everyone is constantly in a rush and in crowded situations they bump
people and never even smile or say I am sorry.
But for Christians it should be
different because of the standard our Lord gave to us. When Jesus was on earth
He was going from city to city teaching in the synagogues and we are told that
when He saw the multitudes of people He was moved to compassion. (Matthew 9:36)
True compassion moves us to action. In
Mark 2:3 we read that "some men came, bringing Him a paralytic, carried by
the four of them." These men saw their friend's helpless condition and
their compassion moved them to take action. They carried him to Jesus. When
Jesus saw the man, He saw more than his physical need. He saw his spiritual
need --- for forgiveness of his sins. Jesus took care of the man's spiritual
need first saying: "Son your sins are forgiven." Then He healed him
and told him to get up and walk.
God's compassion for us surpasses all
human understanding. He knew our need for salvation from the time of Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was
because of His great compassion for us that He sent His only Son to die on the
cross paying the penalty for our sins. Jesus took our sins upon Himself and
then gave His life for us. There is no greater compassion than this.
Yes, true compassion leads to action. In
Luke chapter 10, we read of the account that we all know as the parable of the
Good Samaritan. In verse 33 we read that when the Samaritan came across the man
who had been beaten by the thieves and left to die, the Samaritan was moved to
compassion and he took action. Unlike the two previous travelers who had come
by the beaten man and continued on without helping, the Samaritan acted, came
to his aid, and saved his life.
We are reminded that even today there
are many people that are in situations that would move anyone to compassion. We
have talked to pastors in Kenya who have told us about the poverty of the
people in their church and tears filled their eyes. This shows real compassion.
Just take a trip someday and go into a children's hospital and see just a few
of the children who are sick and dying. We can assure you that your heart will
be broken with compassion.
These illustrations from life today and
from the scripture need to be a reminder to us to live each day with a heart that
is sensitive to being compassionate. When you see someone in need, help them.
When you see someone hurting with grief, give them a word of encouragement.
Work today on the concept of what Ken’s father told him years ago --- Live a
life of JOY --- JOY spelled out one letter at a time says Jesus, then others
and lastly you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found
in Ephesians 1:2.
Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Give me today a compassionate heart. May
I be alert to others and their needs. Help my family to watch for ways to show
compassion to others. Thank You Lord for the wonderful standard of compassion
You have set for us to live by. Help me not to merely feel compassion but to be
moved to action to show my compassion to others.
