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Compassion
1. What Is Compassion?
English
Websters : a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by suffering or misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the pain or remove it's cause.
WordNet : the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Greek
σπλαγκνον (splogknon) - entrails, inward parts, guts. this was believed to be the seat of the emotions, and so became 'love' and 'compassion' (which seems to be used as the response of love to the needs of another).
In Grace terms
Wisdom to understand the need or problem
Passion to care for the other person
Humility to want to act in a caring and helpful manner
2. Why Is Compassion Significant?
Civilization differences from religion - fear of the world or confidence?
Marco's Friends Email
'Existentialist Dilemna' - man is all alone in a cold and uncaring universe
 
frankly, i (we?) think this way at times.
3. Is God Compassionate?
the problems
pain and suffering in life
the presence of sin in life
calvinism and predestination (debatable)
god demonstrates compassion to us clearly through christ
Matt 14:14
(recognizing anothers need and desiring/deciding to help) Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
Matt 9:35,36
Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
(same phrase in mk 6:14 - like sheep without a shepherd)
Matt 18:27 - forgiveness as compassion
(forgiving a debt is compassionate) "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt."
others
Lk 7:13 - has compassion on a widow and raises her son
Lk 10:33 - the good samaritan is the one who has compassion
Lk 15:20 - the prodigal sons father sees him from afar, has compassion on him, and runs to him
Lk 1:68-79
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
god will accomplish redemption for his people, etc...because of his 'tender mercy' (compassion)
salvation is the ultimate expression of compassion
the law was compassionate because it was a way of receiving peace from god
the cross is supremely compassionate because it shows that god has such compassion on us that he offers himself for us.
god is compassionate - he looks on our need in love, and responds at personal cost
4. What Difference Does It Make?
preface - we need compassion
we are unwilling and unable to admit our needs sometimes...
1. God's compassion changes the way we act towards each other
1. we care for each other with compassion - 1 John 3:16,17
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
2. we forgive each other out of compassion - Matt 18

we need to have the heart of god towards one another
my wife showing compassion to me when i was in a bad mood...

2. God's compassion changes the way we think about life
Trust and confidence in life
Matt 6:25-34 - we should not look to the future with fear

A. worry is a conflict with an understanding of god's compassion
B. trust and contentment
i want us to feel comfort in the compassion of god
what thought is more encouraging that an omnipotent being who knows your needs and feels compassion on you?

the gospel is good news - god has compassion on our needs and condition.
let us give thanks to him for his character