Never Ending Compassion
I love reading the bible. Each new chapter has compelling stories with twists and turns that keep me in awe of what God has done and is doing.
In yesterday’s reading King David’s compassionate acts were humbly received and accepted by Mephibosheth. The story started out with David asking who he could show kindness to and ended with a changed life filled with acceptance and restoration.
The very next chapter starts off again with David’s thought of showing kindness to Hanun son of Nahash. Another young man who had lost his father and needed compassion.
This time David’s acts of kindness were not well received. In fact, due to bad advice from the nobles, Hanun disgraced the representatives sent by King David, insulted the offer of compassion and prepared for battle. The results were disastrous.
When we ask the question, “Who can I show kindness to today?” and act upon God’s leading, it doesn’t guarantee that the recipient will be accepting of the offer. When that happens we have a choice of how we will respond.
David’s actions reflected the character of God as he extended sympathy to someone who had experienced loss. God has a sympathetic heart. In Psalm 103:13 it reads, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
God’s glorious extension of sympathy to a dying world was Christ. Some people humbly accept His offer of grace while other reject Him, insult Him and prepare to fight against Him.
Regardless of our response, God’s compassion never fails; it is new every morning. As a person after God’s own heart we can respond the same way when our attempts at showing compassion are not well received.
Our job is to show the same grace and mercy that we have received to others regardless of their response. Their acceptance or rejection of that grace and mercy is between them and God. As a person after God’s own heart our compassion for others should be new every day.
I have a neighbor at our weekend home that lost her daughter last year. My heart breaks for her at the pain she is feeling. We have talked briefly about it and I recently had the opportunity to show kindness in trimming trees so her view of the river would be better.
She has been listening to people who have counseled her to attend their church and to conform and follow their rules if she wants to ever see her daughter again. They are playing on her loss and in stealing fear.
We have shared our story with them and recently they have been quite distant. I believe that God is showing me that I need to continue to be compassionate and prayerful concerning them. Showing them new mercies every time that I see them.
I didn’t accept the grace of God the first time I heard the message and I’m grateful that He was persistent and patient. Lord help me to be the same for my neighbors.
My Prayer
Father, thank you for Your compassion and grace. I am so grateful that You are faithful, persistent and patient, help me to be the same. I pray for my neighbors and ask that You comfort them and give them peace. Open their hearts to accept You and receive all that You have to offer them. Let my heart and attitude towards others be full of new compassion and mercy every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Where does my help come from?
Lamentations 3:22-23
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”