Compassion / Mrs Lisa Butler

Mrs Lisa Butler

Pastor's Wife

Word of Life Baptist Church

Mattoon, IL

Compassion

I have been thinking a lot about having Compassion on others, and how I fall very short in this area. God commands us to have compassion on others: I’ve noticed with myself that if a person or group of people don’t look, act or live the way I think they should, I don’t have the compassion on them as I should.

Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: We ought to do all we can to rescue others out of the snares of the devil, that they may be saved from or recovered out of dangerous errors, This must be done with compassion, making a difference. We are often apt to over-do, when we think we are right.

Jude 23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; urging upon them the terrors of the Lord; how much am I doing to win the lost to Christ through my walk with the Lord, am I showing compassion on them? Even though they don’t look or act the same way I do.

One of the first mentions of compassion in God’s word is 2Kings 13:23

And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

The Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them in their miseries and respect unto them. It was of the Lord's mercies that they were not consumed, even in all of the unbelief and disobedience of these people, The Lord was compassionate unto them.

In Matthew 14:14 we see where Jesus was compassionate on the sick and healed them.

Mat_14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Then in Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

We are told that as Christians we are to have compassion on our brethren, this is talking about our brethren in the Lord.

First we see how our God had Compassion on a group of people.

Second we see Jesus having Compassion on the sick.

Third we see the brethren are commanded to have Compassion on other believers.

The definition of compassion:

(Have) pity, spare.

I have to ask myself if I have compassion on my fellow believers especially when they are or I feel like they are doing wrong.

Next do I have compassion on the lost and am I doing everything I can to help bring them to Christ?

This was a very soul searching study for me; I praise the Lord for helping me see my need to have more Compassion.

I’ve been asking the Lord to give me more compassion, I want to have compassion on the lost, I pray the Lord will show me the sinners’ heart and how they need the Lord, I want to be able to look past their faults, appearance, way of life, and pray for their salvation. This is very difficult with some people at times. But my desire is to look past their faults and look at the heart that needs the Lord.