Compassion means demonstrating empathy, concern, kindness, and caring toward others and willingness to help them. In its more commonly used sense, compassion has been defined as “sympathetic pity and concern for the suffering or misfortunes of others.”
God is the God of compassion. The Scripture describes the extent of God’s compassion in this way: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6,7 NIV).
Compassion incorporates love, thoughtfulness, gentleness, tenderness, commitment, and mercy. The prophet Jeremiah wrote this about God’s compassion: “It is because of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Since God’s compassions are “new every morning” isn’t this a great and positive way to start each day with the assurance of God’s new compassions?
God’s compassion in salvation is not based on our worth or worthiness, because we have none; but rather it is based on the fact we were “lost sinners” and desperately in need of a Savior who would reconcile sinful man to a Holy God.
Jesus Christ specifically came into the world for that purpose; thus giving the assurance of sins forgiven and eternal life. Without God’s mercy and compassion, life would be lacking, empty, and meaningless. Mercy means that God wisely withholds from us that which we duly deserve. So mercy and compassion are inseparable.
The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Because of our transgressions and iniquities, we went astray, walking in our self-will and seeking only to satisfy the flesh. Therefore, our compassionate God must place all these on Jesus Christ to be forgiven.
There was no other way. The Bible states this about God: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong (Habakkuk 1:13 NIV). We must remember that God is holy and we are unholy. Therefore, the prophet Isaiah declares: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you” (Isaiah 59:2).
Under the caption of “The Old Testament God of Compassion and mercy,” Dr. Miles Van Pelt wrote the following: “Mercy and compassion are rooted in the very character of God. His law commands it. Wisdom teaches it. The prophets enjoin it and the Psalms applaud it. Of course, the fullest expression of the mercy of God is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the compassion of God incarnate. But the New Testament does not represent a departure from the Old Testament at this point, but rather the arrival of its fullest expectation.” (Dr Van Pelt is associate professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Ms).
A stanza of an ancient hymn reads: “We praise then our God, / How rich is His grace, / We were far from Him once, / estranged from His face. / By blood we are purchased, / are cleansed and made nigh / and blest in Christ Jesus our Savior on high”
This hymn highlights the fact that prior to salvation, we were strangers to God and His grace. We were lost in sin, groping in the dark, doing our own thing, and without hope in a sinful world.
However, it was not God’s divine will that anyone should perish (John 3:16) but rather come to a saving “knowledge of the truth” by trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and have the assurance of salvation.This is the only way sinners can be made right with God.
If you have never experienced God’s compassion; why not do so now? The extent of God’s compassion is revealed in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He sent to be the Savior of mankind; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God in His love and mercy provided salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. By receiving Jesus as your Savior, your sins will be forgiven and you’ll be on your way to heaven..