Doesn't Everyone Need Compassion?

One of the delights of having young children is seeing how they love one another. Often the challenge is to get them to love one another gently. Often we face the same challenge little realising the awesome Gospel picture that the extension of tender compassion into the lives of others paints in front of a watching world.

One of the great Biblical examples of compassion is that shown by David to Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. It is useful for us in thinking through how we might show compassion to those in need in our lives. First we find David planning compassion. He is found looking for opportunities (1), he is watching and working not waiting and wondering, there is an eagerness to serve someone and meet need. He then invests time in learning about Mephibosheth’s circumstances (2-3). There is no check list mentality here; he asks questions until he gets an answer and sees an opportunity. In all of this he is looking beyond obligations; he goes beyond what might have been expected of him.

Second, he provides compassion. David’s compassion meets three distinct needs in Mephibosheth’s life. First, it provides protection and security which is compassion that quells fear- compassion rejects importance in order to remove intimidation. Second, it ensures provision which is compassion that meets need- David could just have spared him, instead he sustains him. We are to do what we can, where we are, with what we have. Third it provides position which is compassion that indicates value. An invitation to the place of feasting indicates a place in both family and favour.

Third, the whole scenario allows us to picture compassion- where we are the recipients. This is the Gospel picture. It is that we are Mephibosheth. We had no way to approach the king, spiritually lame, we required someone to bring us to the king. No way to restore our life, we belonged to a broken, bankrupt and beaten kingdom. Like Mephibosheth we found ourselves in every way an enemy of the king, and therefore at the mercy of the King. So, like Mephibosheth, we had no way to expect that which God gives us through Jesus Christ. Mercy which removes our enmity to God, grace which promises us a place of feasting, family and favour as those adopted into His family.

This is the picture that we are given of a lasting legacy of limitless love from God to us through Jesus- can you paint that picture in someone else’s life today?