Read John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Compassion is a deep awareness of and connection with the emotions of others. I like the way Henri Nouwen defines it. Compassion, he says, is the “art of being with”. Compassion is at the root of the Gospel – God’s compassion for us is the reason for the incarnation (which we explored in last week’s devos). Because of his great love – not romantic love but selfless, unconditional “agape” love – He came in bodily form to deal with the problem of evil and make a way for us to live in right relationship with Him. His compassion led to a desire to be WITH us.
As we see throughout the four Gospel narratives (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), His greatest desire was to be fully with people – not only in a physical sense but also in an emotional, relational, and spiritual sense. If compassion is the art of being with, then Jesus is the master artist.
Today, reflect on John 3:16 – a foundational passage of the Christian faith. Take a few moments to sit in the presence of a compassionate God who desires to be WITH you in all things.
Prayer: Lord, you are a compassionate God. I give you thanks and praise today as I remember that you modeled compassion – ‘with-ness’ – when you made a way for us to be with you forever. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life that comes from your compassion.
