Full of Compassion

A faint sound was heard by a woman as she was on her morning walk before work. As she investigated where the noise was coming from, she looked under a bush. There she found a small kitten. It appeared the poor thing had been abandoned. The woman gently picked up the kitten and stroked its furry head. She took the little cat home with her and fed it. Did she need a cat? No. Why did she take the kitten home that day? It was because of compassion.

According to Webster, compassion is, "Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." In other words, you realize what someone is going through, and you have a desire to help ease their suffering.

God is full of compassion. Psalm 78:38 tells us, “But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.” God was merciful to the children of Israel, even though they frequently turned away from Him. Psalm 86:15 declares, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 111:4 states, “He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” Psalm 112:4 assures, “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” Psalm 145:8 says, “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” The psalmist declares over and over the compassion, grace, and mercy of God.

Jesus showed compassion when He was here on earth as He ministered to the sick. He healed the lepers that no one else would touch. We read in Mark 1:41, “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.” He healed the blind, as we read in Matthew 20:34, “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” He cast devils out of people who were possessed. He healed the mute, deaf, and epileptic. He helped end the suffering of so many people. Matthew 14:14 demonstrates this, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.”

We, as followers of Christ, should also show compassion to others. Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. A man fell victim to thieves and was beaten. A Levite and a priest saw the poor man lying by the way, but they passed on by. Then came along a Samaritan. In Luke 10:33 we read, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.” The Samaritan treated the man's wounds, put him up on his own animal, and took him to an inn where he could recover. He even paid for the man's expenses. The Samaritan not only saw that the beaten man needed help, but compassion called on him to help the poor man. Compassion put him into action! The good Samaritan fulfilled Jude 1:22, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” The Samaritan definitely made a difference for the wounded man that he helped. 1 Peter 3:8 also exhorts, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.”

You never know what someone else is going through. Behind a forced smile may be a heart that is breaking. Have compassion on everyone you meet. You may just make a difference in someone's day or someone's life.