Compassion

a\t[compassion] Greek: metriopatheo (GSN-3356), to be moderate or merciful toward. It means not merely to have compassion, but to act with moderation; to bear with each person according to his ignorance, weakness, and circumstances; to pity, feel for, and excuse as far as possible; to be ready to pardon and when punishment is required, to administer it with gentleness (Hebrews 5:2-3).


Is it possible that this might be what the professed church is lacking, and if we who claim to be His are lacking compassion, then are we not
lacking Him? :-?

Matthew 9:36
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 15:32
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Matthew 18:27
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:33
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Matthew 20:34
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Mark 1:41
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Mark 5:19
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Mark 6:34
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Mark 8:2
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

Mark 9:22
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

pastorfrin

[color=0000CC]John 1:14-17 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, [/color][color=006600]full of grace and truth. [/color][color=0000CC]John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but [/color][color=006600]grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.[/color]

It have often felt that we as believers are especially good at focusing on the second half of this statement. Oh, the importance we put on "truth" as we understand it. Grace is not something for which the church as a whole is known. We can argue the finest points of doctrine, but can we love our neighbor...?

[color=0000CC]Col 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.[/color]

Amen and amen.

In His Love,

Doug

Bro. Doug,

you wrote:

It have often felt that we as believers are especially good at focusing on the second half of this statement. Oh, the importance we put on "truth" as we understand it. Grace is not something for which the church as a whole is known. We can argue the finest points of doctrine, but can we love our neighbor...?

So true, it is so easy to say I believe this and I think that and etc, etc, etc, But to show compassion takes action and that is something the so called church is not willing to get involved in. Why? Because the love of God in not in it.

1 John 3:11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:16-18
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

We can all offer our opinions and thoughts on here, but how much of this, our we, the so called church actually doing.

Matthew 25:32-46
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? [38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? [39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: [42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: [43] I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. [44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? [45] Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

We can proclaim grace all we want, but grace without compassion is death. People do not be deceived,
Faith without works is dead.
James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

a\t[compassion] Greek: metriopatheo (GSN-3356), to be moderate or merciful toward. It means not merely to have compassion, but to act with moderation; to bear with each person according to his ignorance, weakness, and circumstances; to pity, feel for, and excuse as far as possible; to be ready to pardon and when punishment is required, to administer it with gentleness
Do we have any?

pastorfrin

We can proclaim grace all we want, but grace without compassion is death. People do not be deceived,

Certainly, my reformed background taught (inadvertently) that compassion and "spoiling" were synonymous. That made it very hard for me to trust in God, as I had difficulty accepting his love and compassion. I think that I still do.

I can easily talk all about the wonderful truths of the gospel with anyone, but being sensitive to God-given opportunities to express compassion is less natural (and more risky).

I have linked this thread to [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=15074&forum=36]True Conversion - Why repent? [/url] as I believe that the two need to be united.
Compassion and conversion: How do they relate?

Diane

Sis. Diane said:

I can easily talk all about the wonderful truths of the gospel with anyone, but being sensitive to God-given opportunities to express compassion is less natural (and more risky).

Is this not what Jesus did for us, by showing us
compassion He took a chance on rather we would receive it or not. To show compassion opens us up to the emotions of others and it is not always
pleasant. Is that not what conversion is, going
away from self and giving all we are to another.

I have been reading in Haggai 1 and I see a main
reason the church seems to be in limbo.

Haggai 1:5-11
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. [6] Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
[7] Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. [8] Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. [9] Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. [10] Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. [11] And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

Even though the Lord is talking about the Temple
in this scripture I see a parallel between what He is saying about the temple as a physical building
and the church as a spiritual building.
They negleted the temple in favour of their own
possessions. Thus The Lord cut off their physical
blessings.
Same with those who are converted, if we only consider our own position in Christ and hoard the
flow of blessings given to us for ourselves. He
will cut off the flow and we become stagnant, not
continuing to bear fruit. The flow must not only come into us but flow from us unto others.
This is why compassion is so important.

In His Love,

pastorfrin

Same with those who are converted, if we only consider our own position in Christ and hoard the flow of blessings given to us for ourselves. He will cut off the flow and we become stagnant, not continuing to bear fruit. The flow must not only come into us but flow from us unto others.
This is why compassion is so important.

Pastorfrin, you are presenting some very convicting words from the OT. Compassion is difficult because it demands that we step out of our self-absorbed world, open the door of our heart, and let love spill out. I can easily pass out tracks, donate to the food bank, organize a kid’s program, and greet others with a smile, even tell them about God… but don’t ask me to open my heart to another – and extend empathy, forgiveness, understanding, along with time to listen. A part of me is reluctant to understand the world of the homosexual, the neurotic, the rebel teen, the shy child, the nagging mother-in-law – I guess, because I see parts of myself in all of them. Let me stay bubble-wrapped on my own map. It’s safer that way.

So in our meticulous attempts to live the perfect Christian life, we can easily miss the main point entirely: “We know we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.” 1 Jn. 3:14

Diane

Pastorfrin, you are presenting some very convicting words from the OT. Compassion is difficult because it demands that we step out of our self-absorbed world, open the door of our heart, and let love spill out. I can easily pass out tracks, donate to the food bank, organize a kid’s program, and greet others with a smile, even tell them about God… but don’t ask me to open my heart to another – and extend empathy, forgiveness, understanding, along with time to listen. A part of me is reluctant to understand the world of the homosexual, the neurotic, the rebel teen, the shy child, the nagging mother-in-law – I guess, because I see parts of myself in all of them. Let me stay bubble-wrapped on my own map. It’s safer that way.

Was this not what Jesus was asking from all who
are his in John 13 and 15
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

This is what those who are searching are looking
for, show me Jesus, don't just talk about Him.
We lay down our lives for others because our life is not our own. We have lost it and gained it in Him. By this shall all men know you are mine, how? by the love and compassion we show to one another.
Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Ephes. 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Ephes. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col. 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Is it a risk? only if its not done with pure a pure heart fervently.

In His Love

pastorfrin

bartle, actually the word risk is not in the bible. Maybe its because in HIM there is no risk.

Ya think, :-)

pastorfrin

bartle, actually the word risk is not in the bible. Maybe its because in HIM there is no risk.

According to the dictionary risk means : exposure to the chance of injury or loss.

Surely we cannot deny that the decision to love like Christ loved involves great risk! It put Christ on the cross!

Ron Bailey says in one of his sermons: "When you love someone you give them a tremendous power to hurt you."

And that is the risk we are called to take, is it not?

Diane

Let me stay bubble-wrapped on my own map. It’s safer that way.

I couldn't resist passing on that little gem.

Diane

Diane, thank you

Surely we cannot deny that the decision to love like Christ loved involves great risk! It put Christ on the cross!

But is that not what Christ has called us to do?Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Maybe this is what take up his cross means.

Jesus said:Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Notice he did not say my yoke comes with great
risk. He said: For my yoke is easy and my burden
is light.
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 17:33
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

If we love with worry of being hurt, then we have not lost our lives and we are at great risk.

For whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Rom. 14:23b

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

And so He has also called us to do,
John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Risk, in the natural yes, but we are not of the
natural.
[add] 1 John 4:15-21
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [19] We love him, because he first loved us. [20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

In His Love

pastorfrin