Compassion Of Christ

So much of the Lord's ministry on earth was moved by a heart of compassion. Compassion is more than an emotion, it is what one definition describes as, co-suffering with another individual. Matthew 9:36 says, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (NIV).

Jesus not only acknowledge the human suffering around Him, but His heart was moved by what He saw as lives harassed and helpless. People with little or no direction or purpose in life. People who lacked true spiritual guidance. These were not just any individuals but His own people who were called by His name.

Centuries earlier they were victoriously brought out of Egypt, guided through the wilderness and took possession of the Promise Land. They were to rule and reign over the land God gave them. Now, they were beaten down, oppressed, subjugated to a sin-crazed Roman government and devilish spiritual powers.

It's very easy to close our ears and eyes to the human suffering around us. It overwhelms us when we read or see on television lives torn by war, stricken by famine, dying from some plague or some natural disaster that wipes out an entire town or city. We don't know what to do so we tend to tune out and shut down.

Our hearts can get brittle at work with people we really don't like because of their attitudes or some other behavior that is ungodly or simply annoying. Where we really get tested in having a heart of compassion is in our own homes. Some family members will push our buttons to the point where we might react very badly.

As stated before, the compassion of Christ is not an emotion rather it's a call to action. Jesus goes on to tell the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers (verse 38). Then He empowers the disciples to go out and preach the good news and heal the sick and cast out devils (Matthew 10:1).

Compassion may require us to "co-suffer" with people until they are saved, delivered, healed and restored. God will give us the power and grace in those difficult moments. When our hearts are moved by God's compassion for the lost, we can be sure God will do great things through our lives to see others brought into the kingdom.