Compassion That Leads to Action

God So Loved the World that He gave His only Son…

John 3:16

“Compassion that leads to action.”  I came across that phrase recently.  I wish I could remember where I read it!  But it stuck in my mind, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot. 

There can be no better example than the recent Easter season that we just celebrated.  God was willing to give His own Son, and Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life to save us from the death penalty of sin that we all deserve.  Matthew 26:53 tells Jesus’ words “do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus knew His Father’s will and He was willing to die instead of saving Himself.

True compassion goes beyond just feeling sympathy or pity for someone who is suffering. I’m thinking of the time Jesus took a boat to a solitary place where He had gone to be alone (Matthew14:13-21).   The people heard about it, and “when He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” You are probably familiar with this story.  When evening came, the disciples came to Jesus and reminded Him that it was late and the people were hungry.  They told Him to send the crowds away so they could go to the villages and buy themselves some food.  I’m sure that was the only solution they could think of.  Instead, Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” An impossible situation!  There were 5,000 men besides women and children!  The only food they could come up with was five loaves of bread and two fish!  But Jesus said, “Bring them to Me.”  In Jesus’ hands, it became enough to feed the entire multitude with 12 baskets of food leftover!

I’m convicted as I read this Scripture.  I realize that often my initial reaction when I hear of someone suffering and in need is similar to the disciples “Lord, send them away.”  Their situation seems impossible, and I don’t know how to fix it!  Maybe someone else can meet that need.  

We read the parable Jesus told about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  A man had been attacked and beaten and left half dead on the road.  Two religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, saw the man but passed by on the other side of the road.  It was a Samaritan, despised by the Jews, who took pity and stopped to meet the need.  His compassion led to action.  He was willing to set aside his own agenda and sacrifice his time and money to meet the needs of this injured man.

The Lord has commanded that we love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  (Mark 12:28-31) The parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ answer to the question asked of Him, “Who is my neighbor?” What is the response that would please the Lord when a need comes to my attention?  First, I want to follow the example of the disciples — bring the need to Jesus.  I can pray and ask Him if there is something specific He wants me to do to meet the need. I may not have the answers myself, but I can trust Him. The Holy Spirit living in us can enable us to compassionately reach out to those in need with the wisdom and the resources He will provide abundantly.

Lord, I pray for I pray for your love and  a heart of compassion that is willing to sacrifice to meet the needs that you bring to my attention — a heart of compassion that leads to action.