Compassion's Price Tag

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Can you care for those who hurt you? Can you look beyond people’s selfishness or obnoxiousness and see their needs?  Can you see where they have been hurt?  Now, can you see the grace of God that cuts the root of sin and alienation and brings healing to wounded people?

If you can see these things then you are beginning to look at the world through the Father’s eyes.  You are most like Christ when you overlook personal injury and offense, resist the invitation to anger, then reach out in grace and compassion to heal. Christ’s price tag for this kind of compassion was his life.  He sacrificed His life on the cross for your sin and mine and, yes, the people who have hurt you.  We have hope of eternal life through his resurrection.

As a Kingdom Rebel, it’s not enough to know the truth.  People can be bludgeoned by truth, but that was not the way Jesus moved throughout the earth.  Jesus’ ministry was consistently marked by love and compassion…and yours must be as well. As the old saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!”

This was our motto in ministry.  Every person that came to our church’s Community Café, Kid’s Cafe, food bank, free clothing give-away, Family Fun Nights, small home groups, Youth group activities or outreach community events was to know they were cared for and we had compassion on them.  They were made to feel important and feel valued.  It was then we were able to share the gospel with them and see their lives change for the Kingdom of heaven. Many people submitted their lives to Christ because of our team's compassion followed by loving actions.

God intends you to be a channel of comfort and compassion.  Receiving deeply for your own needs first and then giving out generously to others. What qualifies you to minister to others is having received the same ministry from Jesus yourself.  It may flow directly from His Spirit or it may come to you through other Kingdom Rebels.  Trouble is guaranteed in our fallen world, so you will have unending opportunity to care for others with compassion.

Thank You for Your kindness and compassion toward me, God. Now, give me Your perspective and help me to see others as You do

and be a source of Your care to them.