Compassion
Notes
Transcript
Temp
Temp
Fall has arrived and the temperature is rapidly dropping. As it gets colder, our clothing changes. We put on more layers in order to warm ourselves up.
Our bodies have a core temperature that is vital to maintain in order to live.
But not only do our bodies have a core temperature - our hearts do as well. Our hearts are either cold hearted or warm hearted towards people around us.
When you’re in a romantic relationship with someone, or even a friendship, you feel warmly towards them.
When you are not in a relationship with someone, you feel cold, unmoved or indifferent towards them.
In order for our hearts to be warm hearted towards others; we need to possess the right clothing.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Why would Paul list a group of internal realties as external features?
Because these are all intended to be expressed in our relationships with others.
Paul is teaching us how to relate to others well, and what we’ll see is that this is all the result of our new relationship to God.
The first key attribute we are called to have is: Compassion
οἰκτιρμός
oyk-tir-mos'
compassion, pity, mercy
bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion
emotions, longings, manifestations of pity
We are affectionate people - people with emotion.
Often times, for better or worse, the extent to which we feel dictates the extent to which we act.
Eating
Dating
Homework
Gym
Sleep
For better or worse, the extent to which we feel dictates the extent to which we act.
______
Now it is important for us to learn to act, despite our feelings, this is called discipline. We need to learn how to
train
study
love
Despite how we feel.
Here’s what we don’t need to learn: how to be robots. God is not calling us to be mechanical, robotic, or obedient solely out of obligation.
God wants us to have deep pity, that coincides with action
Compassion
co action & passion
There’s this unhealthy divide between compassion and action
If we don’t care; we don’t act.
Not too long ago - I was having a conversation with my wife and I said, confessed to her that I was struggling with a few relationships in my life. They just seemed shallow, unfulfilling and meaningless.
Upon talking further, you know what I came to the point of admitting? I just didn’t care. I didn’t care about that particular person in my life.
// same idea but could tell the story w/ dogs as object
Story of bird trapped in egress
How many of you would have helped the bird?
There are people in our lives that like that bird are trapped and hurting, but we don’t help, b/c
1. We don’t see them and
2. we don’t care.
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
Observations about the good samaritan:
Helped (noticed) the hurting
Crossed cultural & societal divides
Showed generosity w/time & $
Living interruptibly
This story is a story of compassion, when asked to describe the person who was loving; the man replies
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Compassion is love in action
it’s being merciful to those who don’t deserve it.
It’s acting to remove the consequnces of sin
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
How do we live compassionate and merciful lives?
Matt 5:3
Why do we live compassiote & merciful lives?
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus Responds with a story and then asks
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
For Jesus it wasn’t a issue of proximity - it was an issue of identity - Jesus calls us to be a people of love, a people of compassion
Who do you love?
Maybe you have a spouse? A bf/gf, or maybe you don’t.
As people we long to love and to be loved by someone.
As people, we spend a lot of time evaluating who will be the object of our love
Who should we love is a poor question, the answer is everyone.
A better question is who don’t you love?
B/c here’s the reality about our love it has limits. We don’t love everyone.
Why don’t we love everyone?
b/c we need Jesus to give us a heart of compassion
