06/02/2024
Humans as a whole are wired with intrinsic compassion.
It is the thing deep inside of us that breaks and makes our stomachs drop when we hear the news of a friend’s medical diagnosis. The emotion that drives our hearts to care for and watch out for small children, even those we do not know, and the driving force behind what causes the very bravest of us to run towards fires, floods, and chaos to rescue those trapped in the middle of it. It is, quite simply, a small piece of love that God crafted into every beating heart.
I don't even know if He had to think about it. I imagine that when Jesus was crafting mankind, it was just the essence of his love for us diffusing into our very souls.
As the world around us becomes harder and colder, as Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram have us scrambling for the perfect angles and perfect lighting, as our worlds narrow down to a screen in front of us and the comfort of the known, it is easy to lose sight of the people around us who are in desperate need of the love of God to touch their lives.
The man pretending to forget his wallet at the grocery store to hide the fact that he cannot pay for his items. The woman so focused on her kids meager Christmas and how to make it happen even when she just can't, the man desperate enough to come up to your window and ask for gas.
When did we become so hard and jaded that the sight of a man with a sign on the side of the road in 25 degree weather means nothing to us?
When did our hearts become hard?
When did we lose the compassion of the Lord that is seemingly built into our DNA?
My boys teach me more about Jesus and his heart than I will ever be able to teach them. Whenever one gets hurt the other one rushes to their side with hugs and comfort. It does not matter if it was just a quick scare or a gnarly goose egg on the side of the head, both are met with the same level of love and compassion. Because to the one in pain, all they know is that they need love, and to the one comforting, all they know is that their brother is hurting and he needs comfort.
When did we lose this understanding, as a human race, but more importantly as the Christian church?
Jesus was radical about his compassion and love. He died out of the deepest compassion and the strongest love for our sins.
But somewhere along the line we have talked ourselves out of radical compassion as a part of our Christian walk because of the inconvenience to our everyday life. It is inconvenient to make a whole meal for another family and then drop it off to them. It is inconvenient to have people in our home. It is inconvenient to talk on the phone with someone who is hurting because it takes our time. It's inconvenient to sit and write the card.
My dear sweet friends, we must do better. We must be better. We are the salt of the earth. We are the reflection of the Light of the world. Be salty! Reflect the Light!
Give the compliment! Send the card! Make the meal! Pray for that person Jesus laid your heart and tell them you did!
Go to the person's house who just received their worst news ever and just be there for them...and while you're there..fold their laundry!
It's time to get radical about our compassion.
It's time to get loud with our hospitality.
Simply put…it's go time.
