Show Compassion To All

God is compassionate, and it is His will that we be compassionate too.

"You must be compassionate,

just as your Father is compassionate."

Luke 6:36

Compared to Osha, my kitten, the spider is tiny. It is also helpless and has no way of protecting itself against a playful kitten. Some may view a spider as repulsive and of no value or purpose in a home. They may be right. I hate spiders in my house. But I can't stand the thought of Osha tormenting one either. (Tim took the picture.) Surprisingly, I have compassion for the spider.

The Bible says that God shows no partiality. He loves all people, big and small. He cares for the orphans and widows, and is kind and generous to the foreigners in our land.

"He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice.

He shows love to the foreigners living among you

and gives them food and clothing."

Deuteronomy 10:18

The Bible also says that God has compassion for those who are harassed and helpless. The spider again comes to mind.

"When He saw the crowds,

He had compassion for them

because they were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd."

Matthew 9:36

Compared to God, we are all really nothing more than spiders. But God is not like Osha. He has compassion on us simply because He loves us.

And it is God's will that we be like Him. Therefore, we need to be tenderhearted and charitable to all, including those in our society who are unfortunate, destitute, unfavourable, and helpless, as well as those whom society has deemed hopeless and inferior. More specifically, we need to show love, kindness, and generosity to the homeless, to people of different races and cultures, to the physically and mentally challenged, to children and teens in foster care, to drug and alcohol addicts, to jailed criminals, and to the mentally ill.

This Christmas give the gift of compassion:

• Take the time to listen to someone who needs to talk.
• Phone a person who might be feeling lonely or sad. Let them know you are thinking about them.
• Start a conversation with a stranger while you are waiting in a line-up. Your friendliness can make a big difference in a person's stressful and troubling day.
• Visit someone you know who is in jail and speak God's Word of life into them.
• Buy flowers for someone who is feeling depressed. When the sad-hearted person looks at the flowers, he/she will be reminded that someone cares.
• Give a wayward teenager a sincere compliment.

These gifts are not costly, but they are powerful and effective.