A Heart of Compassion

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3: 12-17

I was reading a short story online, by Dave Brandon which goes like this:

Seven people were attending a musical production at a crowded amusement park. Wanting to sit together, they tried to squeeze into one row. But as they did, a woman rushed between them. His wife mentioned to her that we wanted to stay together, but the woman quickly said, “Too bad,” as she and her two companions pushed on into the row.

As three them sat one row behind the other four, his wife, noticed that the woman had an adult with her who appeared to have special needs. She had been trying to keep her little group together so she could take care of her friend. Suddenly, their irritation faded. His wife said, “Imagine how tough things are for her in a crowded place like this.” Yes, perhaps the woman did respond rudely. But we could respond with compassion rather than anger.

Wherever we go, we will encounter people who need compassion. Perhaps these words from the apostle Paul can help us view everyone around us in a different light—as people who need the gentle touch of grace. “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3:12). He also suggests that we “bear with each other and forgive one another” (v. 13).
As we show compassion, we will be pointing others to the One who poured out His heart of grace and compassion on us.

In verses 15 & 16 of Col. 3 it is written to let the peace of God rule in your hearts and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. The Greek understanding of the word “let” [is to make, give opportunity].

In our fast paced society, we need to slow down and demonstrate the compassion that God wants to demonstrate through us. Many times we are quick to judge a situation without looking into the details. We need to make or give opportunity for God’s grace and compassion to flow through us.

Psalm 147:3 states that God heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.

1 Peter 2:24 says, who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 3:1 tells us that God lavished on us a great love, that we should be called the children of God! And this is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

Maybe it is time for God’s people to demonstrate who He is by showing the compassion and love that He showed each one of us. By introducing them to the one who loved them with great compassion, by how we respond and treat them.