Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Demonstrate Compassion

Living in a world that revolves around yourself is easy. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. This is not how Christ lived his life, though, and our duty as Christians is to walk in the ways of Jesus as best we can. To do this, we must get outside of our shells and have compassion on other people because that was how Jesus lived. He demonstrated compassion on those he encountered.
One such example of Jesus' compassion can be found within Matthew 15:32, which states, "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.'" Jesus was aware that the large crowd had to feel famished physically, even if they were spiritually full after spending three days with Him. Jesus saw the need of those within the crowd and responded accordingly. He had the disciples distribute what little food they possessed in order to feed the crowd of four thousand, and by God's grace, there were plenty of leftovers. Because of Christ's compassion, the crowd was able to go home with full stomachs and enough energy to make the journey home.
In 21st century America, it becomes too easy to turn a blind eye to the needs of others. Instead of ignoring people's needs, we should be driven to help and serve others the best we can. We must demonstrate compassion, and the only way to do that is to be aware of your surroundings and willing to live outside of your own little bubble. To make it easier to remember, keep the lyrics of Hillsong United's song "Mighty to Save" in mind, which begins with the line, "Everybody needs compassion." That should stir you into action, hopefully. 
For example, if somebody has forgotten their wallet and can't pay for their groceries, offer to help them out. If somebody has a flat tire, stop and ask to assist in anyway that you can. If somebody is job-searching, just like you, offer suggestions to make the process easier and less stressful for them. These are all ways that each one of us can demonstrate compassion. Hebrews 10:24 phrases it in this unique fashion: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." By taking the time to demonstrate compassion in the lives of others, we offer an example and encouragement for others to follow suit.

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