COMPASSION IN OUR CARE
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
1 John 3:16-17 (NLT)
We’ve all heard the expression talk is cheap. Maybe we’ve even been guilty of some cheap talk ourselves. It’s easy to say something but harder to practically live it out. If we’re going to truly love people compassionately, we can’t just talk about it. Our actions must demonstrate that compassion.
Jesus set a remarkable precedent for us. He didn’t just tell us that He loved us; He demonstrated it through His actions. He came to earth as a human being, lived a perfect life, and then sacrificed that life so that we might be redeemed. If Jesus loved us by giving up His life, how can we claim to love those around us without doing the same?
True love is going to cost you something. It might be your time, effort, energy, resources or any number of different things. But to love someone is to sacrifice for them. In the passage above, John makes it clear that we are to care for others by meeting their needs. If you have a surplus while a brother or sister in Christ has a deficit, how can we claim that we are being compassionate? Consider the challenge of James 2:14-16 (NLT): What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
Our faith and our love for others must motivate us to action. Otherwise, it’s just cheap talk or possibly dead and useless faith (see James 2:17).
APPLICATION:
Growing up, you may have heard the acronym JOY: Jesus, Others, You. Is this the order of things in your life? Are you willing to metaphorically lay down your life in the name of Jesus for others? What can you give of yourself that others might be blessed?
PRAYER:
Father, help me care for others as You do. Help me to not just say I love others but to really do it. Help me in my selfishness, Lord, so that I might honor You and compassionately care for others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?