Question 1

Why does God have such compassion for his people?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 103:13-14The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.God’s compassion for us comes from his knowledge of our weaknesses; his tender care is like the care of a father.Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.God has compassion on us because he knows that without him, we are confused, helpless, and hopeless.Nehemiah 13:22O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love.God’s compassion for us flows from the deep commitment signified by his unfailing love.Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.God is compassionate toward you because, through Jesus Christ, he understands your weaknesses and your penchant toward sin.

Question 2

How does God show his compassion to me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 103:8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.Psalm 103:13The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.God shows his compassion to you by giving you blessings you don’t deserve, and by patiently refraining from punishing you for every sin. God shows acts like a good father toward his child.

Question 3

Will God’s compassion come to me even when I don’t deserve it?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 103:8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.What a wonderful surprise when divine love pours forth on the undeserving. Yes, God is compassionate even when you don’t deserve it.Luke 15:20So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.The prodigal son did not deserve compassion from his father, but his father showed it anyway—thrilled that his son was returning home. If you have strayed from God, you may face difficult consequences for your sin, but you can be sure that God will have compassion and will be waiting for you with open arms.Lamentations 3:22The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.When you are facing grief, sorrow, or guilt, you may feel like you don’t deserve God’s compassion, or that you somehow have used up his patience. Rest assured that God’s compassion flows endlessly, like wave after ocean wave.

Question 4

How can I show compassion to others?

Accepted Answer

2 Corinthians 8:9You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.In his love and compassion for you, Jesus gave up his most high position to come to earth and die for your sins. Your goal, as a believer in Jesus, is to develop that same depth of love and compassion for others, to the point that you would be willing even to give up your life for their sake.Job 16:2-5“I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.”Be very careful giving advice to hurting people; first they need compassion. Job’s friends were not very compassionate to him when he lost everything, thus their advice was not helpful. Job called them “miserable comforters.”James 2:15-16Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?1 John 3:17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?You show compassion for others by helping when it is in your power to do so.

Question 5

What can I learn about God’s compassion that can help me be more compassionate?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 72:12-14He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.Mark 1:41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”Luke 6:36“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”Luke 7:12-13A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.Philippians 1:8God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.God’s compassion is real and leads to action. A mark of godliness is to share the compassionate heart of Jesus with others. If you want to be like him, then you must work at being compassionate, for that is one of his greatest qualities.Exodus 34:6The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”Lamentations 3:22-23The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.Psalm 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.The compassion of God is slow to get angry. You, too, should be slow to get angry, not reacting with impulsive harshness. Just as God gives you mercy when you don’t deserve it, so you, too, need to be willing to give compassion even when the person doesn’t deserve it.Psalm 79:8Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair.The compassion of God meets people’s needs. Let your compassion do the same.Isaiah 54:7“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back.”Even when you have abandoned or rejected God, his compassion moves him to pursue you. He wants to have an eternal relationship with you. Be willing to forgive and, if it’s healthy, be willing to take people back.Matthew 14:14Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.The compassion of God forgives others and wants to help them. Remember how much you have been forgiven, and, so, be willing to forgive others.

Question 6

How is my compassion for others related to my faith?

Accepted Answer

Luke 5:20Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”Acts 10:43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.Jesus forgave and healed people when he saw their faith placed into action. So, too, as your faith grows, you should act with compassion toward those around you.

Question 7

What happens when I fail to show compassion?

Accepted Answer

Ezekiel 34:2, 4-5, 9-10“Prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? . . . You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. . . . Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock.”A lack of compassion hurts those whom God has placed in your life. It also causes your heart to grow cold. A cold heart is a dead heart. If you find yourself thinking mostly about your own needs and desires, your heart is losing the compassion that makes you effective for God and spiritually and emotionally healthy.

Question 8

Why is compassion an important quality of leadership?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 72:12-14He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.Psalm 145:8The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.Mark 1:41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”Luke 6:36“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”A mark of godly leaders is to show the compassion that God shows in dealing with us.2 Samuel 9:7“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”Leaders honor God and others by their acts of compassion. David’s compassion toward Jonathan extended to his son (Saul’s grandson), Mephibosheth, showed his gracious heart, generosity, and integrity.

Compassion