And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick (Matthew 14:14).
The Bible lets us know that God is compassionate and full of mercy. In Psalm 78:38, the scripture didn’t just say that God has compassion, but that He is full of it. That shows us the kind of God He is; His compassion is inexhaustible.
Compassion is the quality of recognizing or pitying the suffering of another with the desire to alleviate the suffering. It’s a compelling motivation to take away the pains of another. God demonstrated compassion when, out of love, He gave His Son, Jesus to die for the sins of the world. His compassion for us motivated Him to action. The Bible says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103: 11-13 NIV).
Compassion was also evident in the ministry of Jesus. Several times, the Bible says He was moved with compassion to heal the sick, feed multitudes, forgive people’s sins, e.t.c. One time, He came across a widow who was on her way to bury her only son. Jesus moved with compassion, stopped the funeral procession and raised the young man back to life and restored him to his mother (Luke 7:11-15)!
Compassion is a motivator; it’s a quality that compels you to action. That’s what distinguishes it from sympathy. Sympathy is when one feels pity but doesn’t act. Don’t just sympathize with people but be moved to produce a change in their situation. Like your heavenly Father, be full of compassion, and let that compassion motivate you to help the very needy and hurting people around you.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for filling my heart with your love, kindness and compassion. Just like Jesus, I’m compelled and motivated by compassion to alleviate the suffering of others today by sharing the good news of your love with them, and taking other conscious steps to alleviate their hurts and pain. As I do, miracles follow, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
Further Study
Jude 1:22-23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
