Compassionate

The LORD is like a father to his children, 

tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 

Psalm 103:13 (NLT) 

The scripture tells us that God revealed his character to Moses.  And what was the defining characteristic that God revealed about himself? - his unending compassion and mercy.

To truly understand and know God we must understand and know him as he truly is.  If we see him as a judgmental and critical God we will never be drawn toward him.  But, if we come to see him as he has revealed himself to be - our loving father, full of compassion, then we will be irresistibly drawn to him to receive all that he has for us. 

Compassion is defined as: Having a feeling of strong affection for someone. The word has a special focus on mercy toward a person in difficult circumstances and is characterized by unconditional love. To come to understand and feel that God has a strong feeling of affection for you is a life changing experience.  All of a sudden you are no longer alone.  You know someone truly cares about you. 

We can trust a God who cares for us that much.  We don't have a thing to fear. We can freely draw near to him with our whole heart to receive that love, affection, mercy and companionship that we need.  

Open our eyes and hearts, Lord, to see and understand you as you truly are - our loving, compassionate father. 

He revealed his character to Moses.

The LORD is compassionate and merciful,

 slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 

Psalm 103:7-8 (NLT) 

We know how much God loves us, 

and we have put our trust in his love. 

Such love has no fear, 

because perfect love expels all fear. 

1 John 4:16,18 (NLT) 

The Humanity of Jesus

Image from The Humanity of Jesus, Dr. Dann Spader, sonlife.com

Because God’s children are human beings

—made of flesh and blood—

the Son also became flesh and blood.

 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing,

 he is able to help us when we are being tested. 

 Heb 2:14,18 (NLT)

We think so much about Christ's divinity, not often about his humanity. But, it is Christ, in his humanity, who is our companion in our times of trouble or sorrow.

Because he is human, he feels what we feel. He is our helper and not just one who stands aloof, but one who enters into our suffering with us. He is for us, constantly interceding and pleading for our healing and well-being. Because of his deep empathy for us, he is able to comfort and sustain us. 

Nothing we ever go through will ever be able to separate us from this love. That is why we are exhorted to come without hesitation to him to ask and receive the help we need. He stands ready to come to our aid, to calm our fears and to comfort us with his love.

Who then will condemn us? 
No one

for Christ Jesus died for us
 and was raised to life for us,
and he is sitting in the place of honor
 at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.
Romans 8:34 (NLT)

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us

when we need it most.

Heb 4:15-16 (NLT)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below

—indeed, nothing in all creation 

will ever be able to separate us from the love of God

 that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Romans 8:39 (NLT)

Pity

My Child by David Bowman

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.Psalm 103.13 (NLT)

It is hard for us to conceive the depth of love and compassion God feels for us in our condition of weakness.  He came to set us free from our sins and the consequences of them and yet we continue to suffer from our weakness and failures in so many ways.  God, instead of condemning us, is touched by the feelings of our infirmities, our weaknesses, our frailty and the resulting suffering and has great pity and compassion for us.  I am overwhelmed by the sense of his concern and care.  He actually feels sorry for me and enters into my suffering.  He longs for me to receive his strength that I might begin to grow and overcome those things that hold me bound.  

This brought to mind a phrase from the old hymn At the Cross - "Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"  The depth of God's pity and his deep concern for us is expressed in the ultimate sacrifice of his death on the cross.  We are in need of his pity, compassion, grace and love. May we receive it today.

Thank you for the great compassion, pity and mercy I feel coming from your heart.  Oh Lord, may I experience your strength in my weakness.  May I overcome by your spirit working in me. 

 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses... So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Heb 4:15-16 (NLT)

Listen to At the Cross:
http://youtu.be/NcqtZyv5flE

Art of David Bowman
http://www.bowman-art.com/indexFineart.htm

Leading with the Heart

When he saw the crowds,

he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, 

like sheep without a shepherd.

Matt 9:36 (NLT)

Sometimes the first reaction we have when someone is in trouble or suffering is, "They brought this on themselves by their own weakness and failure.  They are suffering because of their addiction or their poor choices.  Why can't they just get their life together?  If they were stronger they wouldn't be suffering now."  This is judgment.  This is our human way of thinking. 

Instead, Jesus looked and had compassion on those who were suffering.  He understands that our suffering is often caused by our own failures and weaknesses, but instead of judging and condemning, he comes alongside to help.  Love doesn't judge and condemn.  Instead, love extends a listening ear and a helping hand no matter the cause of the distress. 

Henri Nouwen, the Catholic priest who spent his later years helping disabled adults, teaches us that when we stop judging and evaluating others we become free to be compassionate. "Compassion can never coexist with judgment because judgment creates the distance, the distinction, which prevents us from really being with the other." (Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, pg. 35)

And Paul Miller says,  "Judging is knee-jerk, quick, and bereft of thought, while compassion is slow and thought-filled.  Judging separates and, thus, destroys community; compassion unites and creates community." (Paul E. Miller, Love Walked Among Us, Learning to Love Like Jesus, pg. 47)

When our minds jump quickly to judgment, let us stop and think.  Let us think of Jesus who came alongside us.  Who put himself in our shoes and went so far as to lay down his life that he might lift us up out of the pain caused by our own failures. Let us lead with our heart and think, "How can I enter in to help this person in their time of need?"