Our world needs Godly compassion more than ever. People carry around many offenses that leads to their hardened hearts. The natural reaction is to be either indifferent or reciprocate the hostility. However, our supernatural response is to show a heart of compassion towards those who are hurting even though their attitude is something less than desirable!
For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. Psalm 78:37-39
The above word “compassion” is primarily reserved for God. The Lord has the capacity to be compassionate towards all that He has made, and His dealings with people are not rote or out of duty. He has committed Himself to be in covenant with those who receive His son, and His heart is always moved with compassion towards His children. We all have disobeyed God numerous times, but God has not ceased to show us compassion. I am so thankful that the Lord is deeply merciful and long-suffering towards us. Where would we be without God’s loving compassion!?
Do you see God’s compassion towards you? Have you recognized His mercy when you did not deserve it and could not earn it with your own efforts? God’s compassion and mercy softens us as His children and gives us a heart of compassion towards others who suffering.
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34
Jesus’s ministry was full of passion and compassion. He was passionate towards God and compassionate towards people. He saw people as sheep that needed a shepherd. There were times that He wept for others seeing them in their lost state. Jesus had compassion on those with no shepherd and taught them the truth, which they should have learned from their leaders. His intent was to show the heart of the Father to the destitute and the needy.
Leading God’s people requires a heart of compassion. Leaders should be good teachers who try to help the sheep to grow strong in their faith and to not get devoured by the enemy. Compassion allows us to be gentle and meek with people. Having compassion does not mean that we compromise the truth, it only means that we have tenderness in our hearts in the way we communicate and reach the person.
Do you have a heart of compassion towards others? If not, we can pray that we would recognize God’s compassion towards us and that the Lord would soften our hearts with mercy and compassion towards others! The world needs compassionate and truthful Christians!
