Moved with Compassion

When Jesus lived among men, compassion was one of the attributes He commonly displayed. But what exactly is compassion? Webster’s 1828 gives an excellent definition. “A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. Extreme distress of an enemy even changes enmity into at least temporary affection.” Compassion goes far beyond the trite “feeling sorry” for someone else. Some people cringe away from others’ sympathy and are loath to bestow it themself. Yet how Christlike it is to show compassion…a sorrow for others sorrows, driven by love. True compassion does not seek its own well-being (as we read in 1 Corinthians 13 “seeketh not her own”). We read that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” True compassion does not remain as a “feeling.” It is an emotion so strong it moves one to action. Instead of an empty “be ye warmed and filled” Christianity, compassion causes one to seek relief for the distressed. We can love others' souls; yea, we must! But it is so important to also care about their physical body and emotions too.

"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”