• Dene's Blog
  • About Dene
  • Contact Dene
  • Dene's Recipes
  • Dene's Books
  • Dene's Classbooks
  • Gallery
  • Recommended Sites
  • FAQ & Tutorial
  Flight Paths

Compassion

9/29/2014

2 Comments

 
Today’s post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

“In other words, compassion in ministry is not so much the characteristic of a certain type of personality, as the characteristic of the person with a certain set of priorities.”  D. A Carson in Jesus’ Confrontation with the World.

This is true, not because a scholar said it, but because it summarizes the Bible truth on the subject (1 Pet 3:8, 1 Jn 3:17).

A number of conclusions/observations follow:

First, if I am not compassionate, it is not because I was born that way or “just the way I am.”  It is because I choose to not have the proper priorities in my thinking about others.

Next, Jesus’ compassion on the woman at the well illustrates.  He was hungry, tired.  He saw her need and was so energized by helping her that the Twelve were amazed and he said, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  The apostles learned a compassionate heart in three to five years. Think on that the next time a class teacher says they were slow to understand.  I have walked with Jesus about 50 years and find myself somewhat short of where I need to be in this regard.  How about you?

We do not need a personality transplant.  We need to re-set our priorities. A lot less than 5% of the NewTestament concerns the worship and work of the church.  Yet we spend most of our time and energy as Christians there!  Jesus’ compassion flowed when among the people: sinners, workers, crowds, the infirm.  WE NEED to get out of the building.

Peter summarized Jesus’ life, “He went about doing good.”

 Certainly, Sunday worship must be right, by the pattern.  But Christianity is the life everyday and must be marked by doing good for those who do not deserve it just as we did not deserve God’s goodness.

Our priorities fuel our compassion…or lack thereof.  When much of our energy, time, and conversation concerns house, health, career, the kids’ ball schedule, and social engagements, even if we are engrossed with teaching a wowser of a Bible class in order to impress folks with our ability, compassion is a sometime thing.  When our priority is people: to show kindness, to help, to listen, to reprove the works of darkness, to shine a light to guide; when we commit each day to greet each person with the love of God which was shed in our hearts, then compassion flows naturally as it did from our Lord and example.

What is your priority?

Whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. (Phil 3:19)

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; (Col 3:12)


Keith Ward


2 Comments
Debra G Russ
9/29/2014 11:16:19 pm

Thanks for this. It is so true. Some times we are so full of ourselves and our problems we forget the compassion that Jesus showed. We had rather judge and make excuses. Keep up the good work, I am much encouraged!

Reply
keith
9/30/2014 05:32:37 am

Mostly, one has to know me awhile to even think I might be compassionate, I have come to believe we not only need to be a thing, but show it to others in a way to glorify God. So, I wrote this to remind me to SHOW more compassion.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Author
    Dene Ward has taught the Bible for more than  forty years, spoken at women’s retreats and lectureships, and has written both devotional books and class materials. She lives in Lake Butler, Florida, with her husband Keith.


    Categories

    All
    A Wives Series
    Bible People
    Bible Study
    Birds & Animals
    Book Reviews
    Camping
    Children
    Cooking Kitchen
    Country Life
    Discipleship
    Everyday Living
    Faith
    Family
    Gardening
    Grace
    Guest Writer
    History
    Holiness
    Humility Unity
    Materialism
    Medical
    Music
    Prayer
    Psalms
    Salvation
    Trials

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly