What Is Compassion? (Part 2)—Ephesians 4:28b,32; 1 Peter 3:8; Colossians 3:12

Posted on January 11, 2023

Home Blog Posts What Is Compassion? (Part 2)—Ephesians 4:28b,32; 1 Peter 3:8; Colossians 3:12

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What Is Compassion? (Part 2)—Ephesians 4:28b,32; 1 Peter 3:8; Colossians 3:12

Wikipedia states “Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as being sensitive to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on notions such as fairness, justice and interdependence, it may be considered rational in nature.” Consider carefully this photo image, what lessons jump at you?



There’s got to be something more than meets the eye for a disabled vegetable hawker to take out of her meagre income to give to beggar! We may not know about her beliefs but we can see compassion in action, not just for the recipient but for the giver!

Author Fredrick Buechner describes what is at play here: “Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”

Dearly beloved, the spirit of the word compassion is synonymous with doing. Compassion is not concerned with material or physical things. It’s concerned with the human spirit and soul. The spiritual definition of compassion involves acting to alleviate the suffering, of others.

Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress. Mercy is the fruit of compassion. It’s the gift given to the suffering by those living out their compassion; and the Lord our God, Jesus Christ is often moved to mercy through compassion.Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ . . . Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:30, 32-34 NIV.

Jesus’ compassion prompts Him to act and He mercifully loves, heals and rescues. Can we be His representative in this even as He declared in John 17:18 (TPT)—I have commissioned them to represent me just as you commissioned me to represent you.

Jesus’ very presence in the world is the ultimate act of compassion. We did not deserve His sacrifice, but because of God’s great love, we were treated with mercy and are called to live lives of compassion and mercy.

Our theme texts emphasise this. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV. Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele

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