TOPIC: HIS LOVE AND HIS COMPASSION
Bible Reading: Judges 1-2; Luke 7:1-30
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Psalm 145:8(KJV)
The Dictionary define ‘Compassion’ as a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with desire to alleviate it.” Compassion is a product of love and mercy. A true heart of love is tender, merciful and compassionate. In our focal scripture for the day the bible declares that our God is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great mercy. These are germane attributes of God that are exhibited in His dealing with humanity throughout the scriptures.
Christ exhibited these attributes of God in our scriptural reading of today. The widow of Nain was under severe pain and in deep agony having lost her only son. For a mother this is a heart-breaking experience that cannot be easily consoled. What word on earth can pacify such an agonizing heart? Who knows the level of mockery and false accusation levelled against her concerning the death of her only son? Looking at her at once Christ knew the depth of her agony and pain and the scripture recorded it thus, “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep”.” Luke 7:13(NKJV). Christ compassion steered out of His heart of love. He was sympathetic of her condition.
God’s love and compassion are ever available to us to tap into as stated in Lamentation 3:22(NKJV), “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not”. God’s compassion produces His mercy towards us from His loving heart. Circumstances and situations may arise in our life with the aim of consuming us, but God’s love will intervene to succour us through His compassion that will never fail. As humans we are prone to ups and downs, and can be victims of very fierce furnace of affliction that melts our heart and dismantles our resistance just like the agonizing widow of Nain, Christ’s compassion will arise for us when we cry out to Him. The Psalmist stated the obvious truth about God’s compassion in Psalm 86:15(KJV), “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” His compassion initiated His love that brought us salvation and deliverance from the hold of darkness. Our sin and disobedience drove us into satanic prison and stranglehold, His Love and Mercy brought us out from the prison of darkness to His marvellous light. We are recipients of His Love and Compassion in operation in the affairs of men. Just like the widow of Nain whose agony was put to an end and her tears wiped off, we can reach out to Him for our liberty and freedom from the agony and pains in our lives. He came with the power of the Holy Spirit to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free. He paid the price of our sins and opened the prison door wide for our escape. His love for humanity released His compassion towards us to succour us from our suffering and shame. He took away the shame and reproach of the widow of Nain, He can equally put an end to your shame and reproach. That is why He came to give a new life in His light. For, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:4,5,7(KJV)
Action Point: Present your circumstances and situation to God and appeal His mercy and compassion that cannot fail and see His saving grace work for you.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo