This past week, I was blessed with the opportunity to help a few families who are recovering from two hurricanes that went through Lake Charles, LA.

Unconditional Compassion

This past week, I was blessed with the opportunity to help a few families who are recovering from two hurricanes that went through Lake Charles, LA. I did not know who they were. I did not first ask them about their religious beliefs. I did not ask them who they were voting for. They just needed help. And because I want to be like Jesus, I have already chosen to love them. They are worthy of love, because God created them worthy of love—created in His image. And just like God’s love manifests itself in compassion, our love for people is shown through our compassion. Compassion is the natural outflow of a heart that loves people. In fact, a lack of compassion is evidence of an unloving heart.

God’s goal is to make us like Him—to transform us through His Son into godly people. God loved the world and showed compassion by sending His Son (Jn. 3:16). Jesus had compassion on those who were like sheep with no shepherd (Mt. 9:36). He had compassion on the crowd and began to heal their sick (Mt. 14:14). He had compassion on those who followed Him for three days but were without food (Mt. 15:32). The good Samaritan had compassion on the man in need (Lk. 10:33). The father had compassion on the returning prodigal son (Lk. 15:20). When we have compassion on people, we show them who God is.

Compassion can be given freely and unconditionally. Compassion does not need to be earned. God has compassion on everyone—and so must we. It is through compassion that God draws the world to be in relationship with Him (1 Jn. 4:19). Whether they choose to be in a relationship with Him or not, God shows His compassion. Likewise, the body of Christ shows compassion to the world, calling them to be in relationship with us—in relationship with Christ. And their choice to be, or not to be, in relationship with us does not affect our choice to show love through compassion. Our unconditional compassion shines the light of Christ’s love to a world in need. May we never let Satan’s influence in the world rob us of our desire to show the compassion of Christ.

-Cary Gillis D.Min.

November 1, 2020

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