When Compassion Moves Us

1 Peter 4:7–8 NKJV

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 NKJV

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

What causes us to moves?

We move because out of

++Discomfort _Pain of the present_

++Guilt _Feeling of Judgment_

++Pride _To look good_

++Compassion _Caring Enough_

Compassion is

++Not concerned about the optics

++Does not worry about who gets credit

++Understanding your lane.

Matthew 20:28 NKJV

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Luke 19:10 NKJV

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

There is a call to compassion.

++We are called to care

++We are not called to look compassionate.

++We are called to be compassionate.

Compassion is

++Showing kindness or favor

++Being gracious, or of

++Having pity or mercy.

Compassion is the Character of God

God’s compassion is not transactional

God’s compassion is not transitional

Lamentations 3:22–23 NKJV

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

God’s compassion is relational.

Psalm 103:13 NKJV

13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

God’s care for us and Fatherhood

++Are not a temporary

++Are unchangeable realities

Compassion gives us vision

Jesus is our example

Matthew 14:14 NKJV

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Jesus Christ Shows compassion in personal loss.

Matthew 14:13 NKJV

13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

He had received troubling news

Jesus went

++To a deserted place

++By boat _the fastest way possible_

++By himself

He wanted some time alone

The People followed Him

The need didn’t go away because of his loss

Matthew 14:14 NKJV

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

When Compassion moves us we see differently

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 NKJV

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Through it all God can be trusted

Romans 8:28 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

If they only knew it

Luke 19:41–42 NKJV

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

When Jesus came to Jerusalem He

++Drew near to them

++Saw them

++Wept over them

++Was moved with compassion

The things that makes for their peace

++Were present

++Were available in their day

++Were hidden from their eyes

Sometimes what we need is hidden in plain sight.

John 1:11–12 NKJV

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Compassion is a reflection of His peace

Compassion is

++Not a program

++Now a provision

++A Person

Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 NKJV

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Ephesians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 ...to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Jesus is the Peacemaker

Galatians 3:28 NKJV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

He challenged the walls

++Of culture

++Of religion

++Of established protocols

++To bring peace

But they didn’t see it

Vision is not for everybody

Matthew 13:11 NKJV

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Clear vision is given to those

++Who love Him

++Who follow Him

++Who walk in the Spirit

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

He was moved with compassion

The people were

++Numerous

++Weary

++Scattered

Like sheep without a shepherd

Jesus is the good shepherd

++He cares for the sheep

++He protects them

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.