Do you have a hard time being compassionate at times? I know I do. Do you have the desire to be compassionate towards a person that abuses you? I know I do not. Do you feel compassion for the person who is ill because of their own actions? I know that I struggle here as well. Do you know what true compassion is? I did not.
That is, I did not until Troy Dobbs, my pastor at Grace Church Eden Prairie, gave a great message that helped me to understand true compassion. It was from John 8:1-11, the story of the woman caught in adultery. You can listen to it online here.
If you listened to the message, then you can see that Jesus showed compassion without compromising truth. He showed compassion for the adulteress woman and told her what she really needed to do. The verbal exchange was as follows, “Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8:10-11 (ESV)
If we look to Jesus’ example, I should extend compassion to everyone and while doing so, be careful to not condone what God says is sinful. This I find to be a hard line to walk. I want at times, to wish bad on someone who has hurt me or someone I love.
I also found that God’s nature is that He is compassionate. James 5:11says, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”(ESV)
Scripture also tells me that even though God is compassionate He does not necessarily show it to me all of the time. He chooses the right time and place to show me compassion, “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’” Romans 9:15 (ESV)I know however when He chooses to show me compassion, I have hope for the future as well as the present. I also know that He will not hold back His compassion for ever.
“For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.” Lamentation 3:31-33 (ESV)
I also know Jesus has great compassion for all who follow Him and also for those who are still lost. “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:13-14(ESV)
So, God’s compassion is available to me and for you as well. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfied all my sins from the past, in the present and in the future and yours too. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus who became sin for me and you. This was God’s greatest showing of compassion. It is the compassion that brings hope. So, if we believe in Jesus All of our wrongs have been justified and forgiven. If not you will face a final judgment. It is your choice. I hope that you choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google
