Compassion

Compassion

A) Be Like God

Ephesians 5:1 We are to be imitators of God in the same manner as Jesus.

God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness, abundant in truth, forgiving

Colossians 3:12-17 "Bowels of mercy" is a heart of compassion. A Christ centered life is one that cares for others.

Matthew 5:7 We are commanded to be compassionate like Christ.

B) Compassion Looks and Acts

Luke 7:11-17 His heart went out to her. In the midst of the sea of people, Jesus focused on the one with need. Jesus had both tenderness and power.

Matthew 9:36 Seeing and compassion preceded the miracle.

Mark 10:17-22 Jesus beheld the man. He saw beyond the obvious.

Luke 10:32 and 33 The Samaritan sees, has compassion, and acts. The priest and the Levite see a problem, but they are too distracted, preoccupied, or maybe agenda-driven to get involved. They had neither the time nor the energy to be bothered by someone's troubles.

Loving means losing control of our schedule, our money, and our time. When we love, we cease to be the master and become a servant.

C) Judging Blocks Compassion

John 9:1-7 The disciples automatically judged the man for his blindness. Jesus lowered himself in order to care, while the disciples elevated themselves in order to judge.

Compassion affects us. Maybe that is why we judge so quickly, it keeps us from being infected by other people's problems

Verses 35-39 Who was blind?

John 12:47 "I did not come to judge the world, but to save it."

Quickness to correct people can be a form of judging.

Matthew 9:10 -13 Quoted from Hosea 6:6. The people were doing the actions (the sacrifices) but without faith or compassion.

D) Self-Righteousness Blocks compassion

Luke 7:36-39 Simon assumed that Jesus had failed to read this woman correctly. Appearance was all important to the Pharisees, but Jesus completely lacked concern for appearances.

Luke 7:40-47 Jesus wanted Simon to stop judging and start looking. Simon's rigid view of people placed them in a category, and kept them there.

Verses 48-50 Simon was crippled because he did not see his own proud, self-righteous heart.

Luke 18:9-14 Legalism takes bits and pieces of good things and uses them as weapons. Legalism flows from, and feeds on, self-righteousness. It does not look because it has figured everything out ahead of time.

E) Compassion is Required

Matthew 25:31-46 We will be judged for our compassion or lack thereof.

Ephesians 2:1-10 God wants us to really care about other people, never forgetting His care for us.



WHO ARE YOU?

Merciful Hard-hearted

Gracious Expect something in return

Longsuffering Impatient

Abundant in goodness Good intermittently

Abundant in truth Self-willed

Forgiving Bitter,indictive, spiteful