By Lisa Wilmore
The Psalmist, David wrote in Psalm 145 that “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion” (v.8). Have you experienced someone who is kind and revealed an exceptional amount of care and concern for others? Regardless to what others think about individuals, these persons always seem to extend a helping hand revealing their compassion to believers and unbelievers.
My friends, there are people who show so much compassion until it motivates others to be kind and loving, also. For example, I heard a story, a few years ago, that someone began paying for individuals’ breakfast/lunch as they move about through the drive thru window. Of course, this act of kindness went viral. Therefore, based on one individual’s care and concern for others, it sparked others to mimic or show kindness to others as well.
In addition, businesses, communities, and even churches yield on certain days and months to celebrate an “act of kindness day” to show people love and care just because their hearts desire to do so. These are awesome displays of consideration, care and concern for people, yet these acts will never supersede the compassion God has for us.
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion”. As David wrote Psalm 145, it is quite evident that David acknowledged that we have a kind God. Because God was kind to him, it motivated him to show kindness to others. Are you motivated to show kindness to others because what God has done for you? God could have wiped us from the earth, instead, He keeps his promise-that promise for the believers is to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5).
Since God is full of compassion, what is David really sharing in his psalm? One author noted that “Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is hurting, in pain, or has misfortune and is accompanied by a strong desire to help the suffering.” Our greatest example of someone with authentic compassion is Jesus Christ. Jesus showed so much compassion to people who were sick and needed healing-whether physical or spiritual. Additionally, he showed compassion to us when He left His Father to come and on the cross for our sins.
Since we have been made alive in Christ, Paul urged us through his epistle to the church at Colossae by penning this thought: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossian 3:12). Now that we are followers of Christ, we must be compassionate toward others. When they are hurting, show compassion. When they struggle with their issues, show compassion. When they are in need, show compassion. Afterall, our Father God-Jesus Christ our Savior is full of compassion for us.
