Psa 25:6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your
lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.
Mark 6:34 When Jesus went
ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were
like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Heb 4:15 For we do not
have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has
been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
James 5:11 We count those
blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the
outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is
merciful.
All of the scriptures above tell
of God’s compassion for us. Thank God, literally, thank GOD, for His
compassion. Without it, we wouldn’t stand a chance for we continue to come up
with ways to do stupid, sinful things to need it. I shudder to think of the things
I’ve done this week alone!
Compassion has a few constant ‘friends’
that work together. Empathy is one of them. Sympathy is another. One definition
of compassion is "to
suffer with another." (Heb. 4:15 and 10:34). Sympathy essentially implies a feeling of recognition of
another's suffering,
while empathy is actually sharing another's suffering. Empathy is often characterized as the ability to
"put oneself into another's shoes".
I
recently was a backseat passenger. Viewing the world from that angle, rather
than as the driver, I noticed things I usually miss. Sometimes we look at
someone else's life and think they have it easy, or we criticize them for
handling something as they did. Unless we have been through the exact same
situation, though we think we understand, we probably really do not fully
understand their pain, their frustrations, etc. God intends that we empathize
with our fellow human beings and show them compassion just as He has given us. His
word has this to say.
Romans 2:15 Rejoice with
those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Phil. 2:4
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests
of others.
Gal. 5:1-3
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so
that you too will not be tempted.
Col. 3:12
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
May we always walk with compassion for those in need. May our heart be full of empathy for our fellow man.
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