Six Streams of Living Waterਨਮੂਨਾ

A Compassionate Life

This week, we've explored different dimensions of a healthy spiritual life, reflecting on the importance of integrating prayer, holiness, God's Word, and His Spirit into our daily activities. Today, we expand this exploration by examining how we can live a compassionate life, channeling God's love for us into genuine love for our neighbors.

Today’s episode concludes with Jesus posing a simple but deeply pointed question to Simon the Pharisee: “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44).

Simon, of course, had seen a lot of her. From his perspective, a notorious sinner had interrupted his dinner, behaved shamefully, and caused a scene with perfume. He judged the woman quickly and harshly.

However, what Simon failed to see was the woman herself: a broken but beautiful daughter of God; fallen and corrupted, yet bearing her Creator’s image. He missed her deep pain, sorrow, and vulnerable hope. Simon saw, so he thought, everything, but proved blind to what really mattered.

In contrast, Jesus did see the woman. He addresses her directly and tenderly, acknowledging her pain personally and restoring her gently. It’s a redemptive and love-filled response. The foundation of a compassionate life is learning to see people, just as Jesus did, truly.

Often, service work is done without taking the time to ask and listen to what people actually want or need. This, though, is fruitless. The compassionate life is primarily personal. It must be rooted in genuine, direct relationships, not vague issues. As author Chris Webb writes, “We cannot love causes. We can only love people.”

Our concluding question, then, is this:

In whatever spheres you inhabit, do you seethe people around you?

How can you better reflect Jesus’ compassion towards them?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to judge or overlook, but to see with the eyes of Your love. Let me notice the struggles, the beauty, and the humanity in those I encounter, responding with tenderness and care. And give me a heart that pauses to listen, that acts with empathy, and that reflects Jesus’ compassion.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.