Put On Then . . . Compassionate Hearts
This is the third part in a many part series on Colossians 3:12-17. Here you can read Chosen and Beloved.
Compassionate Hearts
I had always considered this phrase to mean “loving hearts”, as in the trite “love your neighbor” sense of the word. Oh, yes, have compassion for your friends. Care for them. Love them. But this is the Dictionary.com definition of “compassion:
This view of compassion is not just feeling for someone. . . it is deep sympathy and sorrow and includes a strong desire to reduce the suffering.
Compassion goes beyond feeling sorry for our neighbor. Compassion demands that we make things better!
Colossians 3:12-17 includes the traits that we should “put on” or clothe ourselves in because we are chosen by God, and holy and beloved.
Our status with God causes a change in our hearts.
So I searched for other instances of the word “compassion” in the Bible. Guess who shows compassion?
Matthew 9:36 (Matthew 9)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 (Matthew 14)
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 15:32 (Matthew 15)
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
Yes, Jesus does. And WHO does he have compassion on? US! He has compassion on the harassed and helpless. He has compassion on the pestering crowd. He has compassion on us, because we daily doubt and turn away. Yet, he has pity on us.
We are called to have compassionate hearts. Hearts that care. Hearts that hurt when others hurt. Hearts that deeply desire to alleviate the pain of our neighbors.
I don’t know about you, but a compassionate heart is not a natural part of me. While I may be willing to take pity on a loved one, I’m not particularly compassionate towards strangers, or adversaries, or those outside of my circles.
And yet, we are called to compassion, which means that I am daily called to repentance for my hardened heart. And I pray to God to give me a compassionate heart so that I can serve Him more fully.
Have you prayed for a “compassionate heart”? What is an example of compassion that you have seen recently?
The two words Paul uses here literally mean “bowels of compassion” or the “mercy you feel in your guts”.
Twitter: dakotapastor
That is interesting. So does that mean seeing others suffer, should literally make US feel sick? Can you elaborate?
Dakotapam recently posted..Put On Then . . . Compassionate Hearts
Twitter: dakotapam
Yes, it’s referring to the feeling you get in your guts when your goes out to someone. Matt Harrison discusses it in the 4th chapter of Christ Have Mercy. https://www.cph.org/p-505-christ-have-mercy-how-to-put-your-faith-in-action.aspx?SearchTerm=christ%20have%20mercy
Twitter: dakotapastor
As I was writing this post I was reminded that I need to read “Christ Have Mercy” again. It h been a few years. thanks for the nudge:)
Dakotapam recently posted..Holy and Beloved
Twitter: dakotapam
You can show compassion to other people all the time without even knowing it. I love to make people feel better especially when they feel down. I am most compassionate with my kids by making them feel special at all times.