Compassion: The Art of "Seeing"

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

Luke 7:13

We are often in a rush to do many things. We get focused on our goals, our hopes, our problems, and our issues. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't know what is going on around us. For some of us it is a defense mechanism that keeps us away from being being consumed by the problems of others, and for others it is a wall that we place up so that we can pay attention to what we feel is the priority in our lives. Compassion is the Art of "Seeing" into the lives of others.

God has called us to have compassion. The very thought of this Greek word is akin to having pity, mercy and tender affection. It is also translated in various versions of the Bible as "tender mercies", "to show love for", be "tender hearted". In Colossians 3:12 the Bible tells us to be "clothed with compassion." Compassion involves and understanding of what a person is feeling in the circumstance that they are going through. Therefore, compassion also involves empathy--the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Jesus was the Master of having compassion on others. In today's passage, there was a large crowd of mourners carrying a dead man out of the city gates. The mother of the dead man was there. The Bible mentions that she was also a widow. Jesus allowed Himself to feel her pain and anguish. He "saw" what she was going through and this "seeing" caused Him to act on her behalf.

That is what God wants from us. As we trust in Him, He will direct our steps so that we find ourselves doing exactly what He wants to accomplish through us. We will gain the "Art of Seeing" and find ourselves moved with compassion towards others.