“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  -Lamentations 3:22-23

 

As we read these verses it bring us hope because we are not alone, God loves and He is compassionate. Jeremiah is writing this poem from his own experience. He watched what was happening around him in Israel/Judah. The people did not care and lived lives contrary to what God wanted them to be. He was broken by his concern for his people, his love for his country and his love for God. He was weeping because the people were rejecting God. His heart was broken with the things that break God’s heart.

 

Divine compassion has human implications because God is compassionate. He expects His people to be the same. The mercy God extends to us sinners was by providing Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. This should motivate us to be compassionate to others.

 

Compassion is the inward urging to reach out in love to those around us who are in need, to have pity, and mercy.

Our world is filled with injustice, poverty, war, rebellion against God, all of this should move us to tears and cause us to take action. Where as we are more selfish, proud and care less for what is happening around us.

 

Every time Jesus was moved with compassion He did something special–He healed, touched and got involved. Showing compassion to the weak and needy is the duty of every Christian. In Luke 14:12-14, “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Jesus says, invite people who have no capacity to pay back, not friends or cater to people who we know and will invite us back. If we want to show God’s compassion of love, we need to reach out to ones who are going through tough times emotionally, physically and financially, etc. True Christ like generosity means showing kindness that can never be repaid. It should be in a practical manner, personal involvement, in family context and community around us. Jeremiah in his time got involved. When we do nothing it is indifference, lack of concern and selfishness.

 

Jeremiah says, “The Lord’s loving kindness and faithfulness never fails. They are new every morning.”

 

How do we develop a compassionate heart toward others? It is through times of intimacy with God. The scriptures are filled with examples of Jesus spending time alone with His father. It was His source of power to accomplish His calling. When we tap into the Holy Spirit through our intimacy with God our hearts become tender and compassionate toward hurting people. John McArther says, “The church was not established as a country club or a fraternity house for fit, cool and stylish people. It is a fellowship of those who recognize their own fallenness and utter helplessness, who have laid hold of Christ for salvation and whose main business on earth is showing other needy sinners the way of salvation.”

 

Jeremiah pleaded with his people and wrote God’s compassion never fails and His mercy is new every morning.
Let us ask ourselves how can I be like Jesus to the world which is hurting.