Daily Devotional

COMPASSION: “A deep awareness of and sympathy for another person’s suffering, coupled with a strong, active motivation to alleviate that distress.”¹

I hate throwing up! In my childhood, catching a flu bug or eating wrong things would result in turmoil within my gut. Finally, unable to hold back the inevitable, off to the bathroom I’d run. Toilet seat up and my face in a position one’s face should never be, out it came. All I had consumed over the past 12 hours is flying out of my mouth as well as thru my nostrils. My body convulses as my stomach seemingly tries to turn itself inside-out. No fun. No fun at all.

But, believe it or not, there is a good memory associated with all that. It’s the memory that often, while in the middle of experiencing such disgusting events, I’d realize that one of my dad’s hands was on my back and his other hand supporting my forehead. He somehow pushed through the revolting sights, sounds and smells of my distress (vomiting) to comfort me. His hand on my back said “I’m here” and his hand on my forehead supported me, comforted me.  
 
Fast forward to 1974. My first real job started the day after graduating from Anaheim High School. I was the “Out-camping Director” at Camp Osceola, a YMCA camp in the San Bernardino mountains. One night, one of the boy’s cabins needed a second adult to spend the night. I got the assignment. After ‘lights out’, the 15 or so sixth graders finally got quiet, except for one who was groaning. Then he uttered “I don’t feel so good” which was immediately followed by the unmistakable sights, sounds and smells of someone throwing up. While all the others were yelling “ewwww” and “gross”, my only impulse was to go help this poor kid. Next thing I know is that I’m kneeling by his side with one hand on his back and the other holding his forehead. All I could feel for this little guy was a great desire to help alleviate his distress.  

Looking back makes me wonder, did I have compassion or did compassion have me? Normally I’d be yelling “ewwww” and “gross” with the rest of them, or volunteering to go get the camp nurse. Yet while by his side, somehow the sights, sounds and smells did not have their typical revolting effect on me. Compassion had me.

Compassion is also defined as empathy resulting in action. This action sometimes looks bold, strong and courageous. Being bold, strong and courageous is great, but I like compassion even more because it demonstrates love. Look at how tender and loving the Lord’s compassion is.

For two blind men sitting by the road: Matthew 20:34 – “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”

To a leper: Mark 1:41 – "Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'"

Towards a widow who’s only son had just died: Luke 7:13-15 – "When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, 'Do not weep.' And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother."

When considering what to pray for during 21 days of prayer & fasting for the lost, compassion came to mind. More precisely, my lack of compassion for the lost. Oh, I do care about their plight, but to be honest, I realized my caring was more empathy than compassion. So this became my prayer, that God would give me His compassion for the lost. A compassion that pushes through the revolting sights, sounds and smells of this world to help alleviate the distress of the lost, which is eternity in Hell, forever separated from God.

My 21 days of fasting has stopped, but my praying for compassion continues. You are welcome to join in.

Matthew 9:13 – “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
                                                                                                     

¹Quote by P. Gilbert 2009.

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