By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture to Ponder: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:12-14).
Dear Hearts,
God has afforded me an opportunity to teach a course at the United Theological Seminary (UTS) in Monroe, Louisiana this semester titled “The Topics of Gerontology”. Basically, gerontology is defined as the scientific study of aging, old age, and later life, according to Nancy R. Hooyman in her and other unmentioned authors’ book Aging Matters (2015). In our studies, we discovered that one of the greatest attributes that an individual can extend to the “aging” is compassion, that reveals a sense of sympathy, care and concern for the needs and social well-being of others.
Please note that I am not judging or casting stones at anyone, but I wonder, specifically, how can one who has been chosen by God, walk past an individual who, especially elders, and not be moved by compassion? How can an individual see the “hungered”, and close their eyes by revealing their coldness and not their compassion? How can we say that we love Jesus and are born again Christians and not be moved by the same compassion that Jesus, the Son of God, and God, our Father have? In fact, God’s compassion toward us is endless, eternal, and everlasting.
Jesus, while on this earth was moved by compassion in every aspect of His earthly Ministry. When He saw those who were hungry, He was moved by compassion. When He saw the sick, lame and afflicted, He was moved by compassion. Most interestingly, when He saw us and our condition, He was moved by compassion, also. Still today, God shows compassion towards us. He gives us new mercy each morning of our lives (Lam. 3:22-23).
Why is compassion essential for the believers in Jesus Christ as Paul wrote in our aforementioned Text? Well, if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and He now lives in us, then we should follow His example. Paul declared, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV).
So, when we see the aged, hungered, the needy, the sick, etc. compassion should fuel us to act in the same way Christ acted. After all, it is His Spirit that resides in us. Paul admonished us in God’s Holy Word to “Clothe ourselves with Compassion”. It is essential for your neighbors, families, and friends.
Jesus Saves!
