We continue today to look at the values of Christianity. One of the most prominent values that we have is compassion. The Scriptures tell us, in Colossians 3:12, that “As God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, [we are to] put on compassion.” Compassion is showing concern and sympathy for people who are suffering or going through hard times and desiring to help them. When Jesus walked this earth, He was a great example of showing compassion to people, and as followers of Christ, we are called to mirror His example.
True compassion goes beyond just a feeling of sympathy; it is paired with a desire to help that results in action.
It is important to notice that true compassion goes beyond just a feeling of sympathy; it is paired with a desire to help that results in action. In Scripture, we look to Jesus and see times when he was surrounded by sick, hurting, distressed people. He did not just look at them and feel sorry for them. He desired to help them out of their suffering and He acted on that desire. He healed, He cured, He fed, and He even wept with people who were mourning (Mark 1:41; 8:2–8; Matt. 14:4; John 11:33–35). And though we can’t do all the miraculous things He did, we are still called to show compassion by helping the people in our families, in our churches, in our communities, and in our world.
Ephesians 4:32 calls us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Let’s take that to heart and imagine what it would look like if we did that in our homes first. If we tried to see our family members as people who may be suffering and need our help, we could take a call from a sibling or a parent, bring a meal when they are sick, or sit and listen when they need an ear.
In our communities, we can see the people suffering from homelessness, or broken relationships, or serving time in jail. Reaching out to people through nonprofit organizations is a real-world way we can show compassion to those in our cities.
In our country and in our world, whole areas suffer from food insecurities and poor living conditions. People are sick, underchurched, and unexposed to the best thing we could give them—the gospel. Mission trips in your state, your country, or even across the globe can be opportunities to act on the desire God has placed within you to help the suffering and draw them to Him.
Compassion is necessary in our world. And Jesus has called us to follow His example of compassion, outreach, and missionary work.
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If you want to show compassion through a nonprofit or through missions, visit our website at https://experiencecc.com/authentic-community-service/. We have plenty of ways to reach out with compassion to those in need around us.
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