Compassion:
Suffering with another person in a trial or burden.
(Hebrews 10:34)
If I had to describe Jesus to anyone I think one of the first things I would say about Him is He is full of compassion. When I picture Jesus in my mind’s eye I literally see the epitome of compassion. When we know Jesus we have HIS compassion in us for others! Have you ever been “moved” with compassion for another? What I mean is, not just “feel” for him/her, but to be moved with compassion in a way that you are compelled to act, to comfort, to come alongside him/her? Friends, if that happens to you…MOVE, ACT…. That may very well be Holy Spirit speaking you to action!!
Recently, I was at the grocery store, and as I pulled my car into the parking lot I heard beautiful violin music. I pulled my car into the lot,I got out of my car, and saw this man playing a violin hooked up to a speaker. He had a sign that was asking for help. He is a single dad, looking for work and needed to pay his rent. I know we all see people with signs asking for help; and frankly, I have mixed feelings about that. (Did I just say that out loud?) Let me explain. We as children of God are supposed to help one another. When I see someone with a sign, thoughts race through my head. Are they really homeless? Will they feed an addiction if I give them money? I am not to judge, leave that to God etc, etc…I am conflicted – to say the least – when faced with this situation. But this time was different.
When I saw and heard him, my heart was filled with compassion to the point that I wanted to cry for him. I sat outside my car and watched him for a few minutes. I honestly felt that The Holy Spirit was just beaming with love for this man through my body! It was the strangest, most beautiful experience I can ever remember having. I knew this was God in me and not just me as I was filled with compassion for this man.
Let me encourage you. If you ever feel overwhelming compassion for someone, trust The Spirit in you to act. Be bold and brave with no fear because God wants to use you to give HIS care to that person. It still amazes me that God chooses us to do HIS beautiful work!
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
This scripture right here is your reason to ACT when God moves you. Have you felt God’s compassion? His Mercies? His comfort? It is amazing isn’t it? Then give it away abundantly!