Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
May 16, 2001 Randall Caselman
Hearts of Compassion
The gospel narratives record sixty encounters Jesus had with others, either individuals or groups. Eight of these were with those of high standing, the social elite; twelve were with average folk, much like us; and forty were with the hurting, the poor, hungry, sick, bereaved, the outcast and downtrodden, losers of His day. On them it is said that He had compassion.
To our hurting world the only eyes, ears, hands and feet Jesus has are ours. We are His heart of compassion. We are His instruments for doing good. If we do not see and respond to the hurting of our world, who will? Who will indeed? “Offer yourselves as instruments of righteousness... For we are God’s workmanship, created in Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do... Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Becoming the heart of Jesus is our mission.
Let us see what we can learn about compassion.
1) Our Destiny Depends Upon How We Treat Others.
In the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew chapter twenty-five, eternal destiny was based on whether or not compassion was extended. Christianity includes seeing and serving the Jesus in others. Church attendance without a compassionate heart is not the way, nor the law of Christ.
2) Compassion is a Personal Response.
I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison; and you cared enough to look after me. I had a need, and you showed me compassion. Folk... If God rules our lives, we will be compassionate. If God lives in us, we will not resist His providential leading us to those who need our help either spiritually or physically.
3) Serving Jesus is Accomplished by Serving Others.
As often as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me. How we feel about a brother is how we feel about God. How we talk about a sister is how we talk about God. How we treat one another is how we treat God. When will we admit that God comes to us in others? The Hebrews’ writer tells us that,
Some have entertained angels by serving others, and were not even aware of it. Angels do not always come with clean clothes, shining faces and smelling good.
4) Religion That Does Not See Jesus in Others is Hypocrisy.
The priest and Levite were religious. But when religion ignores others it is ugly religion. Jesus spoke of such when He said, “You hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” The priest and the Levite saw a bloody body on the side of the road, the Good Samaritan saw Jesus. That’s compassion!
5) Compassion is Found In Small Things.
That night in the upper room Jesus knew He was about to die for the sins of the twelve, but He washed their feet anyway. Compassion is best seen in small acts of kindness and caring: washing feet, the widow’s mite, cup of cold water in His name, a sandwich at McDonalds, a few cans of formula, a lift down the highway, ten gallons of gas, a night’s sleep in a real bed, a smile, an encouraging word, sometimes compassion is just saying, I forgive you.
As the world looks at the church, they do not see sound doctrine, they do not know the difference. What they do see are our deeds of compassion. What they do see is Jesus in us.
Paul urges us to become living sacrifices. He says this is a reasonable response to what God has done for us. It is a reasonable way to worship and serve the God who created and saved us. Becoming the eyes, ears, hands, feet and compassionate heart of Jesus is our mission. Scripture tells us that, as children of God, we are predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son... Are we willing?
RANDALL CASELMAN
