I’ve discovered that I lack compassion for myself, much less other people, and I think it comes from internal parts who believe that reminding me of my mistakes is going to motivate me to change for the better. I know from my line of work that those of us who are most critical outwardly begin with ourselves inwardly. To find some comfort, I opened my Bible and the string blew into the chapter of scripture that lent me compassion in spite of myself. My eyes were skimming the page when the words felt like I was reading them for the first time. It seemed that the Lord knew what I needed before I even asked or sought His help. In Luke 14 verse five it reads, “then Jesus answered them saying, ‘which of you having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit will not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day’? and they could not answer him regarding these things”. He was speaking to their heart, meeting them compassionately, extending a question to offer them a pause before responding why they do what they do. It was mercy to cover up their sinful intent of pointing out the religious law because He raises the standard by speaking to their instinctual humanness, which reflects their heart choice. None of them would let something they cared for remain stuck and in need, especially Jesus, and He was affirming their “why”. Sometimes rules and regs of man are to be broken because compassion leans into connection. Only He knows why we do things and is slow enough to respond to our own harshness because He longs to pull us out of condemnation.

When it requires care of an animal, how much more should we execute concern towards humans? Luke 12 verses six through seven asks, “are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you have more value than many sparrows”. Luke 13 verses four through five asks, “or those 18 on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you no but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Jesus doesn’t place stricter value on certain sins. And because we aren’t Jesus we have sin in our lives. Believing that someone else’s sin is worse than your own keeps you from getting free from your own opinion, blinding you to pride. I’ve been there, especially when working behind the scenes of ministries who present themselves differently when behind closed doors. I became disgruntled because character wasn’t present or the success occurred because it was a well run business instead of a passionate call. I was reprimanded and dismissed by those who had the pulpit and my compassion for them, and myself waned. I’ve heard sermons of fire and brimstone that blame death or suffering on someone’s sin and yet I wanted to point out the flaws in their message because I knew the sin they were steeped in. But I suspect that the quicker we get our eyes off of what the other guys sins are, the more connection we will have with Jesus to repent over our own shortcomings.

We are living in a world where trial and tribulation are inevitable. We can repent for doing something wrong but because of the fallen nature, bad things still happen that aren’t always a result of our choices. I found that when I asked him for forgiveness over my judgment His compassion covered both myself, and the one I was condemning. If we perfect our own walk as we recover from our own sins that hurt our relationship with Him, then we will be less reactive to judge other’s choices as fatal because it’s obvious we all have fallen short. Titus 3 verses one through three states, “remind them to be subject to rulers in authorities to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, and to be peaceful, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lust and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating one another”. I don’t need to stir up trouble when I am wronged because I can take my heavy heart to The Lord and discuss it with Him. I have sat in His presence for hours with my own plans and efforts but when I ask Him for compassion and He gives it to me, it is far easier to release my grudges. This does take practice and I’m not even so sure that He expects perfect, but it sure is worth the investment and the condemnation for that circumstance gets eclipsed by compassion. Hopefully the next time will remember the one prior and then my lifestyle will reflect the value I place on wanting relationship with others.

https://youtu.be/upWGSMlBo8o?si=ZSa8LEChLB0mp5Zg