Considering The Character Of Christian Compassion
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 (KJV)
Not too long ago, I found myself in a conversation with some fellow believers about the topic of compassion. Specifically, the significance of compassion, its source and how we show compassion toward others. According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary compassion is defined as: “a suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it.” A broader definition of compassion is said to be sympathy and concern for the sufferings of others as well as a desire to alleviate such suffering. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as "compassion" in the Word of God (the Bible) renders compassion as having mercy or being moved with sympathetic clemency.
Many believe that compassion is a character trait that all people enjoy. However, I invite you to consider that human compassion absolutely and powerfully pales to heaven’s (the Holy Spirit’s) compassion. Furthermore, I submit to you that compassion that is not filled and fueled by faith is fixed in the flesh. Compassion should not be generated by guilt or obligatory underpinnings connected with carnality. God is and should be the source and the spring of all Christian compassion.
“And we have known and believed the love [compassion] that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16 (KJV)
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 (KJV)
Our opening text tells us that God is full of compassion. Therefore, there are several non-negotiable dynamics that are necessary to exercise and engage others with God’s compassion.
We must be born again and full of God’s Spirit (John 3:3).
We should be submissive to the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).
We should purpose to be preoccupied with spiritual things as opposed to materialistic things (Colossians 3:1-2). Setting our minds on things above will mold our viewpoint in accordance with the will of God, giving us the mindset and means to be pure in our practice of compassion.
Our objective is to be God’s glory, not man’s glory! (Colossians 3:17)
God is always sympathetic to our suffering and fully aware of our adversity. Thereby, He takes action. He is never a spiritually strapped spectator. Rather, He is always the omnipotent Sovereign Ruler of the Universe.
“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:14–16 (KJV)
Remember, Body of Christ, Jesus is our Father's most compassionate gift to the world. It is absolutely by the means of the Master Himself, Jesus Christ, that we are pardoned from our perdition and our highly infectious iniquity (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). We cannot convey compassion if we have not considerably been captured by the compassion of God!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR