Imagine being called "blessed" by Jesus Christ. The Word of God says that when the Son of Man shall come in His glory, He shall invite His sheep, whom He calls "ye blessed of my Father," to come to the kingdom prepared for them. The Father says that His blessed have the characteristic of compassion. They have a sympathetic concern for others and an inclination to give aid, support, and mercy. They give whatever is necessary to meet the needs of another, without expectation of anything in return. Both spiritually and physically they see the hungry and feed them, they see the thirsty and give them drink, they house strangers, they clothe the naked, and they visit the sick and those in prison.
Jesus Christ is our example of compassion. He saw the multitude's need and had compassion because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. He met their spiritual need by teaching them, and by encouraging them to pray for laborers. He met their physical need by providing food to strengthen them, and by showing mercy to the sick and diseased. He gave sight to the blind. He cast out the demons from the demoniac and raised the widow's dead son to life. Jesus also saw the needs of sinful man and in His great compassion became the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Nabal, on the other hand, did not have concern for others. He was a wealthy man and had means of support, but when he was told of the needs of David and his men, he replied, " what has that to do with me?"
We must cultivate this sympathetic concern for others and the willingness to give support and show mercy in our lives. We must have compassion as did the Good Samaritan who was willing to be inconvenienced when he saw a man half dead. He took time to bind up the man's wounds, bring him to a place of rest, and take care of him.
Let us strive to follow Jesus and cultivate compassion in our lives. Let us have the mind of Christ knowing that the true source of our strength, of our ability to help others, and success comes from the Lord.
