Compassion

When we observe someone in need of help what is our first reaction?  Are we a person with genuine compassion who seeks to help another, or do we just want to know what is going on with no sincere interest in helping?  In the Bible we are told many times that Jesus had compassion on the crowds or on a person in need and He stopped to help them.  

Jesus told a story about a person who was robbed and injured on a dangerous road.  Two people looked at his near dead body lying on the roadside but went on their way without doing anything to help.  Then a person who was not of the man’s ethnic background came by and took care of him.  He even put the injured man on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he paid the innkeeper to take care of him until the man was well.

By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.  Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. (Luke 10:31-33 NLT) 

When Jesus looked on us in our life in addiction, He had compassion on us,  pursued us with His love and brought us to our Heavenly Father. Now it is time for us to do as Jesus says, “Go and do the same.”

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  (1 Peter 3:8 NIV)

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Please help me to love and be compassionate to those I meet along the way as You and others have loved and shown compassion towards me.  Amen

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