Compassion

 Compassion Over the years, we have watched many television news stories that have brought the evils of humanity into our living rooms. We have witnessed snippets of the proverbial "wars and rumors of wars" that occur endlessly somewhere around the world. Network news has shown us mobs of violent protestors in the streets and footage of murders and atrocities. Anchors and reporters inform us about the easy availability of drugs and their horrible toll on society. The adage, "If it bleeds, it leads,"is so true. How do we feel when we see these issues in living color? Are we saddened for those suffering horrible loss, injury, or death? Do we feel for the children, the men and women, and the elderly who have just had their lives torn apart and ruined?Do we feel compassion for them? How deeply do their pain, anguish, and sorrow touch us? Godtells us in Ezekiel 9:4 that He spares those "who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within" our nation. Are we among them? Do we not only bewail today's evils but also feel compassion for the people who suffer because of the depth of human wickedness? Is God compassionate? How compassionateare we supposed to be? Compassion is "suffering with another" or "sympathy and sorrow for the distress or misfortune of another, with the desire to help." It is a tender pity and commiseration that often spurs acts of kindness and aid. It is an emotion that usually develops into loving activity. Even a superficial reading of the Bible confirms that God shows compassion. For instance, Psalm 111:4 testifies, "He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion." Our God is a compassionate God. He knows what people go through in this life. Seeing the troubles we get ourselves into by our foolish choices, He desires to help us. He wants the best for all mankind. Though ancient Israel repeatedly rejected Him, He still cared for them and desired to help them. Yet, because of their sins, He could only go so far. Notice Deuteronomy 30:1-3: Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORDyour God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, thatthe LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORDyour God has scattered you. (See II Chronicles 36:14-15; Psalm 78:38-39.) Even though God had to be stern with them for disobedience, He still wanted to aid them, bind their wounds, and show them His better way. He warned them frequently, trying to turn them away from the consequences of their disobedience. In Hisgrace, He sometimes forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them, though they deserved it. Our great God is full of compassion. He sets the supreme example for us so that we can learn how to be like Him in our dealings with others. Jesus,God's Son, modeled the same mind, traits, and emotions for us as a Man. Matthew 9:35-36 records: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (See Mark 1:40-42; 8:2-3.) Jesus felt great compassion for His fellow countrymen. He went through town after town, preaching, teaching, healing, and casting demons from many. Being compassionate toward others is part of His nature because He understands human needs andsuffering. He perfectly reflects the nature and traits of His Father (John 14:7-9; 10:30). God the Father and Jesus His Son are one—united, in perfect agreement and harmony—in attitude, character, mind, and spirit. They feel, think, act, and react the same way. At repentance and baptism, we begin the journey of conversion, learning and growing with the Father and Son toward living as They do. Like babies, we start by crawling before we can walk or run, so our spiritual development is slow and full of slips and falls. Being transformedinto the image of Christ is not easy—in fact, it is often painful and spotted by numerous setbacks. Growing in compassion follows the same course. The Father and Son must use Their abundant compassion and mercy while we struggle to grow in it! They want to help us develop this aspect of righteous character in our nature so we can become fullyunited with Them and spread compassion toward all people. As Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:20, "At that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you." This desire means we are to learn and grow in exhibiting compassion toward our fellow man. We start within Christ's body, the church: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (IPeter 3:8-9) We are supposed to use the church as a controlled laboratory for learning to have sympathy and compassion for others, among other things. We are to be kind and tenderhearted toward them, and because they are our brethren, we should be inclinedto show them mercy and forgiveness and perform acts of lovingkindness for their benefit. Jesus taught that there is a law of reciprocity, a spiritual version of the Third Law of Thermodynamics commonly stated as, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Jesus says in Matthew 6:14, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Luke 6:36-38 gives a fuller version: Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and runningover will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Do we desire mercy, sympathy, compassion, and kindness when things go wrong? Then we must exhibit these same traits toward others, especially to our brethren, but also to those in the world around us. Those who show compassion will receive it.Most of all, we will receive it from God, who forgives our sins and sets us back on the path to eternal life. We must examine ourselves and our reactions to the world's heavy toll of sin on its people. Do we feel compassion for the injured and suffering? Do our hearts go out to them? Do we empathize with those in anguish and grief and respond to the inner motivation to help? As Christians, we must answer a resounding "Yes!" if we wantto grow in this aspect of God's nature. - Gary Montgomery