ODB: Known for Compassion
April 2, 2011
True compassion is love in action.
READ: Acts 11:19-26
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. —Acts 11:24
During Major Gen. Mark Graham’s 2 years as commander of Fort Carson, Colorado, he became known and loved for the way he treated others. One US Army colleague said: “I have never come across another general officer who was so compassionate and so concerned about the well-being of soldiers and their families.” After losing one son to suicide and another who was killed in action, Mark and his wife, Carol, dedicated themselves to helping soldiers and their families cope with service-related stress, depression, and loss.
In the book of Acts, a follower of Christ was well known for his care and concern toward others. His name was Joseph, but in the early church, the apostles called him Barnabas—“son of encouragement.” It was Barnabas who vouched for the newly converted Saul when others doubted the sincerity of his faith (Acts 9:26-27). Later, Barnabas brought Saul from Tarsus to teach the believers in Antioch (11:25-26). And it was Barnabas who wanted to give John Mark a second chance after his failure on a previous missionary journey (15:36-38).
Compassion is an inner feeling resulting in outward action. It should be our daily uniform of service (Col. 3:12). By God’s grace, may we be known for it.
— David C. McCasland
Source: Our Daily Bread
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i am certain the Lord did not included compassion in the class of special spiritual gifts endowed only to some for the benefits of all. It should be a fruit evident in the life of all His children. i am only concerned about the modern popular culture of individualism.
Compassion can be learned, and in fact as Christians we learn it as we walk daily in our walk with Christ, as Oladosu said.
At the same time I have seen people of great compassion, of which to me is a gift from God. And like all gifts must be nurtured and encouraged. Such compassion is rare and unique.
In this world of Apathy and “Me, Myself And I” , we must be graceful for such people. And guard against individualism and guard from becoming cynical and jaded.
As a student in the Arts of Apathy and Cynicism, compassion comes hard for me. It is something which I need to think or be reminded about to then show. So yea, like common sense, it is practically a super power.
Regards,
Joel Li