Bible Reading: Mark 7:11-16
If he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. - Exodus 22:27 (ESV).
Dear Friend, We welcome you warmly to the series of Knowing God. We are thanking God for this great opportunity to know Him personally together. The Bible says, "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3 (ESV). All our eternal life would not be sufficient to know about Jesus. Let's start our journey together to know Him more.
Our God is compassionate. He compassionately answers every prayer. His heart bleeds when people suffer. Compassion is an attribute of God. None of His attributes ever changes. Human attributes change over time. We become angry one time and then become loving after some time. But God says, "For I the Lord do not change;" - Malachi 3:6. The Bible says, "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind." - Numbers 23:19 (ESV). The God's attribute never changes. He is who He is.
God compassionately forgives our past mistakes:
As we have seen in our last meditation, Our God is Holy and righteous. The angels exalt his holiness day and night. He is a righteous God. None of our good works in this world can match His Holiness. Though He is righteous and Holy, He does not punish us according to our mistakes. He always forgives all our past mistakes. It is because of our God's compassionate attribute.
Though the wrath of God is stirred up when humanity commits sins, His compassion overflows above His wrath. The Bible says, "Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath." - Psalm 78:38. (ESV)
In overflowing anger, for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love, I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. - Isaiah 54:8 (ESV)
His compassion is more than a Mother's love
The Bible says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" - Isaiah 49:15 (ESV). A mother might not have planned for a child. She might get upset when she realizes that she is carrying an unplanned child. Some mothers give up their children for adoption due to various circumstances. But our dear Lord never gives up on us. He will be with us from our birth to eternity.
Our friends might let us down during crucial moments. Some time back a man wrote to us about His loneliness. He was bound to an uncontrolled state of obsession. His family left him as they could not change Him. They loved him dearly. But he started hurting them. When he realized everyone had left him, his life became even more painful. But He was so happy to know there is God who will never leave Him.
His Compassion Never Changes
Our horizontal relationships with our friends and family are bounded by bidirectional commitments. Our vertical relationship with our dear Lord is single-directional. Our God says, "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you." - Isaiah 54:10 (ESV). Despite all the ups and downs in our lives, we have an anchor that always holds. It is our Lord's compassion, which is sealed and governed by His covenant with all humanity.
The compassion of Jesus during His ministry on earth
When Jesus saw the spiritual condition of the people, He had great compassion for them. The religious leader made the lives of ordinary people harder through difficult laws. The compassion of Jesus overflowed on every occasion. The Bible says, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36 (ESV). Every word Jesus spoke came with authority and power but with compassion and grace.
Jesus not only cared for the spiritual needs of the people, but he also cared for their physical needs. He cared for them like a father cares for His children. The Bible says, "Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over." - Matthew 15:32, 36-37 (ESV). He made sure all the four thousand people had enough and were fully satisfied.
Jesus not only applied compassion for the spiritual and physical needs of the people, He deeply cared for their emotional needs. The miracle He did in the town of Nain was heart-touching and unforgettable, not only for the Widow who received her dead son back but for the people in the entire region. The Bible says, "As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” - Matthew 7:12,13.
Dear friend, are you searching for spiritual, physical, or emotional healing? Jesus wants to heal you today. His compassionate arms are wide open. He is waiting for you right now. Are you ready to run toward Him right now?
Please place your hand on your heart and call upon the name of Jesus. Pray the below prayer along with us from the bottom of your heart in your own words. Jesus is listening to your prayers.
Dear Jesus, I (Your name) come to your throne of grace and mercy. You are my God. You are the compassionate God. There is none like you. Come into my life. Please forgive all my past mistakes. Wash me with your precious blood. Jesus, I don't deserve to stand before you in your holy presence. You are so compassionate. You forgave all my inequities. I stand before you because of your grace and mercy. Please heal me spiritually. Help me to walk closer to you. Make me your precious child. I come all my emotional and physical needs to you. Please hold my hands and lead me. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear Friend, Jesus will show His great compassion in your life. He will lead you. We are praying for everyone who is reading this message. May Jesus bless you and make you a blessing for many. Keep in touch.
