"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
- Oswald Chambers
Compassion; a benevolence which is utmost portrayed through the ministry of Jesus Christ. Examples include, but are not limited to, the blood Jesus sweat in the garden as He compassionately prayed for humanity before the day of His Crucifixion, Jesus' compassion for the crowd in Matthew 14:14 as He healed the sick, and the ultimate act of compassion; death on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus spoke out of utter compassion for humanity on that cross,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34
Jesus broke the bread which symbolizes His own brokenness on the cross for the brokenness of the world we caused through our sinful nature. Through that simple and unfortunately undermined word "compassion," Jesus gave His perfect life for an imperfect and broken world.
As Christians, we should feel compassion for what breaks God's heart.
Compassion either actively thrives in or is knocking on the door of Christians' hearts today. As we are made in His image, man is to exemplify God’s traits, including compassion. Though our humanistic understanding of compassion only reflects a fragment of true compassion which Jesus exemplified, it should exist in the hearts of every Christian. Let me explain.
"Break my heart for what breaks yours, God."
A simple prayer over a year ago changed my life. "God, break my heart for what breaks yours." This is actually the bridge of Hillsong's "Hosanna" and this single sentence resulted in a broken heart yet the fulfillment of true compassion for what breaks God's heart. I asked myself, "why is human trafficking breaking my heart all of the sudden?"
Human trafficking, here in America and in the world, breaks God's heart and He broke mine so He could work through me. Compassion, however, comes in different forms. God did not put compassion on your heart for you to dwell and remain stagnant. It is clearly depicted in the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 14:14 shows how Jesus saw the large crowd, and immediately, He had compassion on them. Jesus, however, did not stop there. He acted on this compassion and He healed the sick.
That compassion knocking on the door of your heart, pursue it and let God work through it.
Oh, person either filled to the brim with compassion or person who is noticing this compassion actively trying to reside in your heart, I pray that you act on it.
This compassion for whatever breaks God's heart should motivate a relentless pursuit guided by God. Surely, you will encounter inevitable obstacles along the way and we will encounter the judgment from others, the questions, the oppositions or justifications for injustice, and the spiritual warfare. I pray that you don't turn your back when you face a hindrance.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31
Additionally, we will most likely question our skills and abilities when acting on this compassion, but I can assure you that we have everything we need when walking on the path God lays out for us. I pray that you tap into and recognize the compassion God places on your heart and I pray that you act on it relentlessly.
God is ready to work through our compassion to make a change in this world.
I never thought my love for listening and counseling would set the stage for my future, but I truly never thought this passion would play a role in the compassion I have for human trafficking. I thought this love for listening was a disadvantage, something I must learn to eliminate when people told me to speak up more than listen. Surely I learned to speak up, but in the way God wanted me to. To speak up for the ones who cannot speak up themselves, and to listen to the one's who need an ear. One can conform to the world's judgment, or one can relentlessly pursue God's meticulous plan.
The compassion you feel is not there to be disregarded or to be pushed aside. As Christians, God truly breaks our heart for what breaks His. God will not give you this compassion if He did not give you the tools you need to act on it. When Jesus resides in our hearts, we have everything we could ever need. Oh compassionate person, let's go change the world through Jesus.
