The Compassionate Heart  

"Pity leads to despair, compassion leads to hope. Someone has said pity weeps and walks away, compassion comes to help and to stay. Pity often produces the tears that keep us a safe distance away from another person's problem. Pity observes - compassion involves."        Author unknown

    As I reflect on Matthew 9:37-38, I can't help but notice that in verse 36, we see Jesus' heart moved with compassion for the people of whom He was ministering. All through the scriptures we see the heart of Christ moved with compassion as He intervened on behalf of the people and met their needs. One of the many examples is in the feeding of the four thousand with only a few fish and some bread in Mark 8.
     God is a God of compassion and those who have embraced Christ as Lord of their life have God's spirit living in them. This means that if God's spirit lives in us and God is a God of compassion, we should be a people of compassion. Colossians 3:12 says, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
    Living a compassionate life is not limited to the pastor, the missionary, the Sunday school teacher, or to the elder or deacon. A life of compassion is a life that reflects the life of Christ. It is the follower of Jesus who desires nothing less of being completely clothed in the righteousness of God.  

     "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
     Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
     where there is injury,pardon;
     where there is doubt, faith;
     where there is despair, hope;
     where there is darkness, light;
     and where there is sadness, joy.

     O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
     to be consoled as to console;
     to be understood as to understand;
     to be loved as to love.
     For it is in giving that we receive;
     it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
     and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen"
                                                                          The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi