COMPASSION REFLECTS GOD'S HEART
by Cindy Carruthers, Stephen Ministry Leadership Team
Psalm 103:8 (NIV) says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Earlier, verse 4 says, “who redeems you from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” in reference to the Lord. Jesus often showed compassion to people. Mark 6:34 (NIV) says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate suffering. An antonym of this Webster’s definition is indifference. The heart of the Father and the Son is compassion. When the Spirit lives in us, the heart of the Father and the Son is manifested in and through us.
The qualities of compassion can be seen in the parable of “The Good Samaritan” found in Luke 10:30-37. In this teaching, a Jewish man is robbed, beaten and left on the side of the road. A priest who comes by crosses to the other side, so as to appear not to see the man, as does a Levite man. A Samaritan man also comes by and sees the man. Samaritans were considered half-breeds by Jews, yet this man stops to help. Verse 33 tells us that he had compassion on the injured man. As a result of his compassion, he was moved into action. He bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He then took the man to an inn and took care of him. He also paid the innkeeper for extra time and provisions to allow the man to heal. We can learn a lot from this man and his acts of compassion. Let’s review:1. Compassion stops to meet needs: First-aid, transportation and accommodation. 2. Compassion costs: Time, oil, provisions and emotions. 3. Compassion looks beyond differences: The Samaritan man made a choice to love unconditionally. He did not assess whether the man was worth it or assess what he could gain; he only saw someone in need. 4. Compassion need not enmesh: He did not totally abandon his own plans. He did delay them for a time, then provided a community to help the victim heal. 5. Compassion comes from understanding similar pain or circumstances: They were both victims—the one from the immediate robbery, the other from his painful past of being ridiculed by the Jews. 6. Compassion flows from the forgiven: It is easy to show compassion for others when you are aware of the mercy and compassion that has been given to you. The priest and Levite probably both had a very important meeting or appointment to keep, as did the Samaritan. The truth that Jesus was getting at in this teaching is that we might need to slow down and change our course of direction in order to help another in need. STEPHEN MINISTRY is an important ministry that puts people in touch with those who are stricken. It is a ministry where you can come alongside another for the long haul and help them in their vulnerable time. Stephen Ministers are known as “the after people”—after the cards and the casseroles stop, they are someone who cares when the hurt sets in. There is a song written by Tim Hughes called “God of Justice” from his album Holding Nothing Back. Read the words and meditate on them and apply them to your life. GOD OF JUSTICE
by Tim Hughes God of justice
Saviour to all
Came to rescue
the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and
not be served Jesus you have called us
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give We must go
Live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward
Keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go To act justly everyday
Loving mercy
in every way
Walking humbly
before you God You have shown us
what you require
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord At Bethany, we currently have people on a waiting list who are in need of a Stephen Minister. We are looking for people like you to become that Stephen Minister. People like you who reflect God’s heart, have compassion and are looking for an opportunity to put that love into action. For more info on becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact anyone on the Stephen Ministry Leadership Team: Kendra Broadley (905-937-2024), Irene Boldt (905-562-5868), Renie Heywood (905-641-3095) and Cindy Carruthers (905-562-0640). Training will resume again in the fall. Please join us in this worthy cause.
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