"Clothe Yourselves with Compassion"
Colossians 3:1-11
Introduction
“Since” or “If”
Foregone conclusion – when Christ died and rose again – something happens to us as well
As a result
We are to take our hearts and minds and refocus them
Illus: Camera – aim and take a picture here or aim and take a picture over there – wherever I point the camera – that’s what’s going to show up on the film when it is developed
When we take our hearts and minds and refocus
Paul is telling us to be intentional on where we point them – saying, “don’t point you heart and mind at these things. If you do, these are the things that will show up on the film of your life – get rid of all these things – don’t focus on them.”
This is why: You died. (In order to rise – must first die) Now you are raised with Christ.
Now, your life is “hidden” with Christ in God.
Illus: Stand behind someone
Who do you see?
This person represents Christ.
Put hands together – in all of my actions – all that is to be seen is Christ
So that when Christ appears – then you also will appear
Your life is so synonymous with Christ – there’s no distinguishing between the two
Illus: Are you Jesus?
Since we have been raised with Christ
We are going to put on the clothes of Jesus – our Easter clothes
Dieing and rising with Christ
“Clothe Yourselves with Compassion”
Series: “Wearing our Easter Clothes”
Colossians 3:12
Introduction
A boy went into a pet shop, looking for a puppy. The store owner showed him a litter in a box. The boy looked at the puppies. He picked each one up, examined it, and put it back into the box.
After several minutes, he walked back to the owner and said, “I picked one out. How much will it cost?”
The man gave him the price, and the boy promised to be back in a few days with the money. “Don’t take too long,” the owner cautioned. “Puppies like these sell quickly.”
The boy turned and smiled knowingly, “I’m not worried,” he said. “Mine will still be here.”
The boy went to work—weeding, washing windows, cleaning yards. He worked hard and saved his money. When he had enough for the puppy, he returned to the store.
He walked up to the counter and laid down a pocketful of wadded bills. The store owner sorted and counted the cash. After verifying the amount, he smiled at the boy and said, “All right, son, you can go get your puppy.”
The boy reached into the back of the box, pulled out a skinny dog with a limp leg, and started to leave.
The owner stopped him.
“Don’t take that puppy,” he objected. “He’s crippled. He can’t play. He’ll never run with you. He can’t fetch. Get one of the healthy pups.”
“No thank you, sir,” the boy replied. “This is exactly the kind of dog I’ve been looking for.”
Need
This is a story about compassion
Paul says, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion.”
Hebrew word: “womb”
Greek word: “inners, intestines”
Compassion is something that comes from deep within
True compassion isn’t something that comes from the surface
Satisfaction
Look at the compassion of Jesus
Matthew 14:13-14 (page 1520)
" When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:13-14, NIV)
Mark 6:34 (page 1562)
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." (Mark 6:34, NIV)
Max Lucado: Compassion means to feel deep sorrow for a person who suffers misfortune and to desire to alleviate the suffering.
Do you see then how Jesus had compassion?
Visualization
Finish that little boy’s story
As the boy turned to leave, the store owner started to speak but remained silent. Suddenly he understood. For extending from the bottom of the boy’s trousers was a brace—a brace for his crippled leg.
Why did the boy want the dog? Because he knew how it felt. And he knew it was very special.
Danger in identifying too quickly
Louis Tamminga – Day of Encouragement – fall off ladder
Little old lady
How can I use personal experience
Only after you have walked along with them
Through the valley
And they know you are walking – then you can say, “I know this road…”
What to say at funerals: “I’m so sorry for your loss”
Each of these virtues needs another
In a healthy Christian life, the virtues do not come as a single virtue – they come as a cluster
Compassion comes with prudence/common sense
Ex: someone calls you and wants a ride to work – 60 degree sunny day
You are no less compassionate
Compassion does not dictate our strategy
Doesn’t trump justice
We don’t elect judges b/c of their compassion
Doesn’t trump common sense
People who ask questions … do not lack compassion – just are not dictated by it
These virtues can be learned by imitation – by watching
When we show compassion – we are helping others rise w/ Christ
Conclusion
In the comic strip Peanuts, Linus was watching a football game on television, cheering “Go! Go! Go!” When the game ended victoriously, he jumped up in a surge of emotion and ran out to find Charlie Brown.
“What a comeback!” he exclaimed. “The home team was behind six to nothing with only three seconds to play. They had the ball on their own one-yard line. The quarterback took the ball, faded back behind his own goal and threw a perfect pass to the left end who whirled away from four guys and ran in for the touchdown! The fans went wild! You should have seen them! And when they kicked the extra point, thousands of people ran onto the field laughing and screaming and rolling on the ground and hugging each other and everything!”
Charlie Brown turned to him and asked, “How did the other team feel?”
Compassion - to feel deep sorrow for a person who suffers misfortune and to desire to alleviate the suffering -- it's part of our Easter clothes.