Yesterday in Sunday School I was teaching 7 and 8-year-olds about compassion. I used several illustrations that they could understand and I could see in their eyes that they were able to relate to other kids their age, even though they had never been in their shoes. I want them to understand that everyone is not as blessed are they are and we need to show compassion to those who are hurting either physically or emotionally. I want them to understand so they will live a life of having compassion for others.
Some people have been beaten down all their lives and treated with hatred and animosity. They are very leery of everyone because they have learned a lot of people aren’t what they say they are. As a Christian, my greatest concern is the eternal well-being of others. I want to see everyone go to Heaven, but I know according to scripture, they will not. Having compassion on their soul is a must if I am to do my part in the great commission.
So, how do I fulfill this great concern of mine? First, and foremost, I must be right with God myself. How can I lead someone to the truth if I am not living in truth? If I say one thing, and act another way, I am a hypocrite. People see through that quickly and are reluctant to follow that person anywhere. Also, I need to pray for them, but if I am not right with God he will not hear my prayer. Anything that I hold on to that doesn’t please God will hinder my prayer. Why would I pray if God was not going to hear me? Search your heart at the beginning of your prayer time. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to God, and He will!
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
Next, I must study to know how to lead someone to Christ. I need to know and learn as much about Him as possible. Don’t misunderstand, you don’t need to know a lot of scripture to lead someone to Christ. If you are saved you have enough knowledge to do that. You can relay what has happened to you, and your story never gets old. However, we are commanded to pray and study, and if you want to be right with God you will obey.
There are all types of ways to reach people. You can host events that are geared to get you in the presence of people. You can make new friends and as you live your life in front of them you are a testimony. You can ask them to come to church with you. You can go door to door doing a survey that allows the homeowner to respond and gives you an opportunity to witness. Some don’t like to do this but I do, and I’ve seen many come to Christ this way. I believe a good church will be involved in all types of outreach. There is no single outreach that will connect you with everyone. The one I want to focus on today is in the book of Jude.
Jude 1:22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
Some will only be won through the showing of compassion. Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. If you want to go a step further, you can have empathy. That is when you feel what they are feeling. To make a real impact and gain the ear of some, you must meet them where they are. They must feel that you genuinely care.
Our Sunday School class adopted a children’s home, about 45 minutes from us, as our compassion project. These kids love when we come and share a game day with them. We love going and playing with them, feeding them, and then sharing a devotion with them. It is a Christian children’s home, so I know they hear the gospel. However, we always share the gospel with them and try to relate to what they are going through. We’ve been going for over three years now, so we have built a relationship with them and the workers. At one event we saw two young people pray to receive Christ. Our compassion showed them Christ, and these two young people accepted Jesus as their Savior.
Real love and concern are foreign to the world we live in. Most that show compassion have an angle. They are showing false compassion because there is something in it for them. Politicians visit those in need for political gain. Famous people show compassion to help their image. Christians show compassion because it points to Christ, not them.
The second half of this verse says, “making a difference.” We need to not just feel for people, we need to put our compassionate feelings into action. People know you care when you sacrifice yourself for them. Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? He gave it all for us. Not because we did anything for Him, not because we deserved His gift, but because he loved us. We are to be like Christ. We are to love them and live in such a way that it will make a difference in their lives. When was the last time you showed real compassion for someone else?
