Devotional: Compassion
"When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things."
- Mark 6:34
Why is it that our initial reaction to someone’s story or someone’s life choices is often judgment? We are quick to assume they made a bad choice, that their feelings are unjustified, or that they are ignorant… as if we would have done better in their position.
Our human nature is bent toward egocentrism, as we all know from experience. We think we know what is best and we think we have the answers for everyone’s problems. That’s why the key element that God desires from us is humility (James 4:6)– because it’s contrary to our self-centered perspective. It requires us to lay down our “know it all” attitude and rest in the fact that God is the only one who does know it all.
If you want to know something interesting, the Greek word for “compassion” in this verse is splagchnizomai (try pronouncing that!), which means “to be moved as to one's bowels hence, to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity).”
Have you ever felt that pit in your stomach and tears rise when you hear of an injustice or when someone you love is crying? The definition from the Greek language is interesting for sure, but it describes how deep the feeling of compassion arises from within our body.
If Jesus is perfect, can you imagine the level of compassion He feels and felt for His creation? Sometimes we think (at least, I think) that Jesus is emotionless or that our emotions are trivial to Him because He knows the solution and because He’s been through far worse. But a story that has been on my heart this week is when Mary and others were weeping because of Lazarus’ death, and He wept with them.
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept. (John 11:33-35).
Here’s the thing: Jesus KNEW He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, but that didn’t stop Him from having compassion when He saw the emotions His loved ones were experiencing.
Sometimes we can know the answer that will help other people in their dismal situations, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have compassion for them as they walk through their emotions. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “[There is] a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” There is a moment for every experience and emotion that comes with it. We don’t have to deny it, but we can embrace the fact that it will pass, whether deemed good or bad in our perspective.
When we see others with the eyes of compassion, it brings down a barrier. People are more likely to listen and to accept counsel from someone who has acknowledged their emotions and been there to console them than from someone who has overlooked and neglected them.
How do we cultivate compassion?
Recognize your flaws and shortcomings.
Judgment can easily overshadow compassion, but when we keep in mind how many times we have failed with our life choices, it puts ourselves in perspective. Everyone is on their own path and journey.
Bear one another’s burdens.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Our duty as Christian brothers and sisters to bear each other’s burdens. What this looks like is meeting them where they are at but still pointing them to Jesus. It means praying for them and having compassion during their difficult situations and trials.
Spend time with Jesus.
He is our perfect example and His Spirit lives within you. Abide in Him through reading the Word and through prayer. Ask Him to know His heart more.
Take a moment:
Is your tendency to judge or to have compassion?
Look up scriptures about being compassionate and about the compassionate nature of God. Can you imagine the greatness of God’s compassion toward us? He is holy and all-knowing, yet His heart toward His creation is compassion. How much more should we have toward one another as mere human beings, yet we sometimes act so righteously.
How does knowing God’s heart of compassion change the way you can relate to Him?
How does it change the way you can relate to others (and even yourself)?
Have you experienced a scenario where you weren’t met with compassion from another Christian? How did that affect you?
Choosing to put on a heart of compassion is what it means to live by faith.
-Alina