Compassion

“Man will dismiss compassion from his heart, but God will never.” – William Cowper Brothers and Sisters I have been hearing over the last year a lot of talk from state leaders about how we need to lock up the homeless. They speak of those in need like animals and I even heard of one state representative claim them to be “animals that breed and leech off of those who work”. Hearing this type of talk breaks my heart as I’m sure it does others. Compassion seems to be a choice to some, choosing to dismiss it and let there tongues run wild, spreading hate instead of love. But if we truly follow Jesus Christ, compassion is a part of our daily walk that should come effortlessly. We have a Lord who saw us completely in ruin. We were full of sin and were walking a road that we shouldn’t have been on. We made life choices that ill effected not only our lives but others. Jesus saw our needs and he had compassion for us. This is told beautifully is the parable of the prodigal son in the Book of Luke (Chapter 15). Luke 15:11-24: 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. NIV This parable is about Jesus and who we turned from God and went out and lived a sinful life. When we hit the low in our lives and came toward Jesus, he not only came to meet us..he Ran towards us, he had compassion for us and embraced us. He restored us through the redemptive work on the cross for those who trust in Him and call him the Lord and Savior. Note that Jesus didn’t tell that parable like this: “he saw the boy running and was disgusted, thinking he was a wild untamed beast that should have never been breed” We deserved that for the way we lived. But Jesus shows grace and mercy..compassion. When we show compassion to those in need, it allows others to see God’s grace and mercy so that God may be glorified. John Wesley stated this nicely in one of his many awesome sermons: “Weep with them that weep. If you can do no more, at least mix your tears with theirs; and give them healing words, such as may calm their minds, and mitigate their sorrows. But if you can, if you are able to give them actual assistance, let it not be wanting. Be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame, a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless. This will greatly tend to conciliate the affection, and to give a profitable pleasure not only to those who are immediate objects of your compassion , but to others likewise that "see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." – John Wesley We are to be God’s hands and feet when it comes to serving Brothers and Sisters who are in need. Compassion is the pulse of the heart of love the Lord instilled in us. When it fails we fail to glorify him and fail to allow God’s love to be in us. 1 John 3:17-20: 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. NIV Brothers and Sisters let us show the word the love of God through our compassion for others. Whether it be the homeless, those in mourning the loss of a loved one or those in need to a pat on the back. Show compassion to them that they may see that Christ dwells in you and glorify God. Hope your week went well. Till next time! In Him, Rev. Rugg