Filled With Compassion
This is the SEASON! Gift giving, holiday dinners, family functions, school shows, church plays, caroling, bell-ringing
benevolence, and charities at every stop light. It is not difficult to get a little busy; maybe even a little frazzled, and often just
tired of all that goes into this time of year. Even though all of it is good and well-meaning, many people get overwhelmed at
this time of year. With all that we know Christmastime is supposed to be, there are so many things that pull us away from the
ONE thing that is “needful.” Now . . . before you assume we are recommending an addition to your crowded schedule or
something else which you have to give… We come with a gift . . . that you don’t even have to unwrap!
Be filled with compassion and comforted by “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and God
of all comfort” [2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV]
Compassion, although rooted in Love and physically manifested through giving is, initially, a profound, divinely imparted
condition of the heart and mind. It is a supernatural force within us that is more empowering than sympathy or benevolence.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
[Psalm 51:1] God’s unfailing compassion sent His only Son as a sacrifice and has erased our sins from existence! As in the
fifth chapter of James, it can produce prayer so heartfelt and fervent that it culminates in healing, removal of burdens, abundant
restoration, and other mighty miracles. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of
Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. [James 5:11] It moves us
beyond the natural circumstances and changes individuals and nations. Compassion is the “fuel” of The Anointing and
catalyst for The Blessing.
When Jesus [the pattern Son] was moved with compassion, all things stopped moving in one direction and everyone who was
open to receive from Him were touched and changed. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a
dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when
the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that
bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. [Luke 7:12-14]
So, what is the key to being filled with compassion? Two-fold; being open to receive and being vulnerable. Like the two
[formerly] blind men mentioned in Matthew 20, we are to be open to receive even when people and circumstances warn us to
be otherwise. Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy
on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes
may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they
followed Him. [Matthew 20:31-33] They received the compassion of Jesus in the midst of great opposition and they were
healed.
Once filled with compassion, we must know that we will be in a condition of vulnerability. Not vulnerable as in unprotected
[see Palm91]; but vulnerable (open) to intense passionate feeling for others. Like the example of the two women claiming one
baby as their own. Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son;
and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor
yours, but divide him.” [1 Kings 3:26] Here, the true mother of the child would rather give the other women her own baby rather
than see him killed. Being filled with compassion can not only move you to put other’s interests before yours, but it will give
you the heart, the capacity and the virtue to do so for people who are “less than deserving.”
Now as we allow ourselves to be filled, to freely receive compassion and open ourselves with vulnerability in order to feel like
God feels, the Father of Compassion will have greater compassion on us. Not that we seek the gift, [we seek God] but
knowing that we are blessed. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you
were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. [1 Peter 3:8-9]
Heart felt, single-minded compassion embodies the greatest virtue we posses as Christians.
We have compassion for you, in Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
This is the SEASON! Gift giving, holiday dinners, family functions, school shows, church plays, caroling, bell-ringing
benevolence, and charities at every stop light. It is not difficult to get a little busy; maybe even a little frazzled, and often just
tired of all that goes into this time of year. Even though all of it is good and well-meaning, many people get overwhelmed at
this time of year. With all that we know Christmastime is supposed to be, there are so many things that pull us away from the
ONE thing that is “needful.” Now . . . before you assume we are recommending an addition to your crowded schedule or
something else which you have to give… We come with a gift . . . that you don’t even have to unwrap!
Be filled with compassion and comforted by “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and God
of all comfort” [2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV]
Compassion, although rooted in Love and physically manifested through giving is, initially, a profound, divinely imparted
condition of the heart and mind. It is a supernatural force within us that is more empowering than sympathy or benevolence.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
[Psalm 51:1] God’s unfailing compassion sent His only Son as a sacrifice and has erased our sins from existence! As in the
fifth chapter of James, it can produce prayer so heartfelt and fervent that it culminates in healing, removal of burdens, abundant
restoration, and other mighty miracles. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of
Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. [James 5:11] It moves us
beyond the natural circumstances and changes individuals and nations. Compassion is the “fuel” of The Anointing and
catalyst for The Blessing.
When Jesus [the pattern Son] was moved with compassion, all things stopped moving in one direction and everyone who was
open to receive from Him were touched and changed. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a
dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when
the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that
bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. [Luke 7:12-14]
So, what is the key to being filled with compassion? Two-fold; being open to receive and being vulnerable. Like the two
[formerly] blind men mentioned in Matthew 20, we are to be open to receive even when people and circumstances warn us to
be otherwise. Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy
on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes
may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they
followed Him. [Matthew 20:31-33] They received the compassion of Jesus in the midst of great opposition and they were
healed.
Once filled with compassion, we must know that we will be in a condition of vulnerability. Not vulnerable as in unprotected
[see Palm91]; but vulnerable (open) to intense passionate feeling for others. Like the example of the two women claiming one
baby as their own. Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son;
and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor
yours, but divide him.” [1 Kings 3:26] Here, the true mother of the child would rather give the other women her own baby rather
than see him killed. Being filled with compassion can not only move you to put other’s interests before yours, but it will give
you the heart, the capacity and the virtue to do so for people who are “less than deserving.”
Now as we allow ourselves to be filled, to freely receive compassion and open ourselves with vulnerability in order to feel like
God feels, the Father of Compassion will have greater compassion on us. Not that we seek the gift, [we seek God] but
knowing that we are blessed. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you
were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. [1 Peter 3:8-9]
Heart felt, single-minded compassion embodies the greatest virtue we posses as Christians.
We have compassion for you, in Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
