“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37
There are many reasons why God’s children should have compassion toward one another. First reason is because we must follow the example of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry on earth was based on compassion. Jesus came to this world to serve, perform miracles, and ultimately die on the cross. He did all of these things because he was compassionate. Jesus used the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10 – that compassion means to lend help based on love, without expecting anything in return.
The second reason is because we first received God’s compassion, the gift of salvation, through His grace that was done by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Showing compassion to others is a way for us to return the compassion God has given us. It should not only be compassion, but also mercy, humility, gentleness and patience. All of these things must fill our lives daily.
The parable Jesus shared in Matthew 18 talks about a man who did not show compassion to his friend although he had received one. This person received compassion from the king because he could not repay his debt. But at the end, he did not want to show compassion to his friend who was in debt. As a result, the king punished him.
The third reason is because we are Christ’s witnesses. Our predicate as “Christian” is that we are followers of Christ, which means we reflect Christ’s characters. So, when we show compassion, we are illustrating who Christ is. By living this way, we are indirectly testifying Christ through what we do.
One of the main proofs we are Christians (Christ’s followers) is that we have love. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35. To be Christ’s followers, we are required to follow the example of Jesus – love must become our lifestyle. Compassion comes from love. When we have Christ’s love, our hearts will automatically have compassion toward one another and it will show through our good deeds.
Let us exemplify the life of Jesus – loving one another, compassionate, treating others well and becoming a witness. God bless.
Source: Article from GBI Gatot Subroto, Jakarta