Friday, August 22, 2008

Consider Compassion

(Matthew 9:35-36)
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
~
Compassion comes from root words meaning “to suffer with.” ‘Jesus looked at the crowd and had compassion on them.’ He felt their pain and chose to relieve their suffering.
I wonder, do we see people who suffer in the same way Jesus did? Do we practice compassion, a suffering with one another? We say we do but have we put ourselves in their shoes and walked any distance? Or do we stand on the sidelines and judge them?
I feel convicted that I have not always had Christ’s compassion toward those who suffer. One who has the compassion of Christ prays for the suffering ones. The one in need hears kindness and helpful suggestions. The strong one sits in the middle of the mess with the needy one and, yet, chooses not to judge.
But, conversely, the compassion giver might have to say or do things ‘in love’ for the sufferers own good. This is a hard topic. Only God can tell us when we are not showing His compassion, thereby failing Him.

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