Challenge of Compassion for People.

I've started reading Love Like Jesus by Judah Smith recently. I've learned a lot already and I've only just completed the first chapter - "The Challenge of Compassion for People." Over the next few days or so I wanted to share my thoughts on these chapters here on my blog, instead of just writing them in a journal like I usually do.


The main verse in this chapter came from Luke 6. 

Luke 6:32-33 (NIV)

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

 After reading this verse, I had to stop and really think about what it was telling me. Basically I understood it to mean that I should get no thanks or applause if I'm just loving the people that love me. I should be loving the people that don't love me as well. This was a very odd thought process, mostly because I already try to do this in my daily life. I try to treat other people with kindness and compassion even if I know they don't like or know me. 

This chapter also asks about our motives for wanting to reach people through Christ. I have to admit I'm not sure yet what my motive is except for them to see the goodness and love of Christ through me. 

Do we see past the sin and love the sinner? Do we truly value the person reguardless of whether they love us back? Will we continue to love them even if they never change? 
                                                                                                   -Judah Smith

In Mark 1, Jesus demonstrates true compassion to a man with leprosy. He touches him (which in that day was completely looked down upon) and cleanses him of the disease. Judah Smith relates the disease of leprosy with the disease of sin. Leprosy and the infections that it caused literally rotted away the flesh of a body to the the point of death.

Sin is a disease that slowly rots the life out of people to the point of death.                                                                   -Judah Smith

If you look up the definition of compassion, it says "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it". Judah Smith takes the time to explain that there are three ingredients to compassion: Stretched out, touched, and spoke/speak. 

To stretch out, or to be stretched out in regards to compassion means to reach out, to stretch beyond your personal comfort zone. That's exactly what Jesus did when he stretched out his hand to the man with leprosy. Sometimes to reach people with compassion, we have to go beyond what is convenient to us and what may be uncomfortable. 

To touch is to touch the lives of sinners. Sometimes to me that means that we listen, or are a friend to a stranger on a day when they need it. There are risks of people thinking that I'm weird, but if I can tell someone is having a bad day, I'm the kind of person to walk up and ask about it... and butt into your issues without asking permission first. Some people will call me weird for that, some will accept me for who I am and open up. 

To speak, Jesus loved the leper so much that he spoke to him. Sometimes that's all it takes, it's as easy as just having a conversation. We have to be willing to voice the love of Jesus and speak the word of God to people in our every day lives. 

My prayer: Lord, please give me the strength to stretch beyond my comfort zone. Give me a heart that is pure and compassionate. Teach me how to reach out to people who just need a friend. Show me the people that may need me most. Change my perspective.