Compassion
January 3, 2026 - Compassion
Share highs, lows and God moments
- When you’re looking for comfort, who is the first person you call?
- If you didn’t have any responsibilities, how would you spend your days?
Compassion is highlighted throughout the Bible. In Exodus 4:6-7, God proclaims himself as compassionate and gracious, and God’s compassion has been likened to a father’s tender care for his children, showing His understanding of human frailty (Psalm 103: 13-14). As Christians, we are urged to clothe ourselves with compassion (Colossians 3:12) and to have a tender heart (1 Peter 3:8). Importantly, compassion cannot be just a feeling but also requires us to act for those in need, regardless of background or status. Jesus teaches this clearly in His parable about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
But from where does compassion come? Standing at the gas pump fueling my car, it occurred to me. Just as gas fuels my engine, love fuels compassion. Without fuel, my car will not run. Without love, compassion cannot ignite.
In 1 John 4:7 we are admonished to love one another, for love comes from God. And since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. And if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:11-12). This love, in turn, fuels us to be compassionate towards others.
Prayer
Lord, fill us with love to fuel compassion for one another and for all your creation.
AMEN