MONDAY: COMPASSION THAT ACTS
KEY PASSAGE
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
DEVOTIONAL
Compassion is not just a feeling you experience, it is a garment you put on.
Jesus is recorded to have had compassion towards people multiple times in the gospels. However, Jesus did not simply feel compassionate, He WAS compassion. Every moment of every day He embodied compassion.
Paul challenges the church in Colossae, and all believers, to clothe ourselves with compassion. Meaning we choose daily to put it on ourselves. If we do not decide to clothe ourselves in compassion, not only do we present the opportunity to rob people of experiencing Jesus out of our lives, but we also rob ourselves from being able to see people like Jesus does.
Compassion does not stay dormant, it is active.
Compassion moves. It steps in. It interrupts schedules. It notices pain. It feeds, comforts, advocates, forgives, and serves.
Feeling sorry costs us little. Acting compassionately costs something.
Jesus didn’t just feel compassion for the hungry, He fed them. He didn’t just feel compassion for the sick, He healed them. He didn’t just feel compassion for sinners, He transformed them.
Our mission as believers is not only to feel like Jesus did, but to do as Jesus did and does today. Clothing ourselves in compassion is how we can embody this mission.
CHALLENGE
Ask - Pray this prayer, “Lord, empower me to clothe myself with compassion today so I may see, feel, and do as you do.”
Allow - Open yourself up to opportunities to walk out this compassion. Look for those around you who may need to be met by compassion.
Act - Don’t leave your compassion dormant, act on it. Offer encouragement to someone in need, feed someone who may be hungry, pray for someone who may be hurting, etc.