What is Compassion?

Can you recall a time you saw someone who looked angry or sad, a person in need of food, a loved one in need of help, or a car broken down on the side of the road? These examples and more are all daily, ordinary moments that can become supernatural opportunities to display the compassion of the Lord.

Compassion is the outflow of God’s love expressed in mercy, kindness, and grace toward others. In Scripture, the Hebrew words râcham (“to show mercy, pity, love”) and ḥan·nūn (“to be gracious”) reveal God’s heart of steadfast love that moves Him to act on behalf of His people (Isaiah 54:8; Exodus 22). Connecting with God through Compassion is to reflect the Father’s heart, loving others selflessly, even when it costs us, just as He loves you with everlasting mercy.

In Exodus 22, God commands His people not to take a poor man’s cloak as a pledge when he borrows money. Even though this was a custom to ensure that a generous person was not cheated out of their money, God says that lenders must return the cloak, or He will hear the cries of the poor man. God commands His people to prioritize the needs of the poor over personal security, teaching them to act with mercy and grace even when it costs them.

Compassion is loving others the way that God loves them: purely and selflessly. When you connect with God through Compassion, you love out of overflow. You are overwhelmed by the love of God, so you pour it onto others.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your overwhelming compassion towards me. Teach me to understand and receive Your compassion in my life so that I may overflow with compassion for others. In Jesus' name, amen.

Application

• Is there anyone in your life you are not gracious towards? Pray the Lord’s prayer: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
• Today, how can you prioritize the needs of another over your own?