SMALL ACTS, BIG RESULTS
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.
So we ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If 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?"
1 John 3:16+17 NLT
What a question! How can God's love be in a person who shows no compassion? And, what exactly, is compassion? The Random House College dictionary defines compassion as, "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune, accompanied by a desire to alleviate the pain or remove its cause." That definition fits well into the Scripture verse. If shows that compassion requires action. For compassion to occur, something must be done. That something does not need to be big. Many of us have had the experience that sometimes a small act of compassion can go a long way.
Today, the small acts of compassion are even more important. The small acts of wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance are going a long way in keeping people around us from getting sick or dying. And, it is these same small acts that tell us whether a person is showing compassion or not; is showing God's love or not. Clearly, people who choose to disregard the current rules for staying safe; like having Covid-19 parties, show little compassion for themselves or anyone else. The people attending large group activities then go out into the community and spread it to many more people. Actions like these truly make a distinction between those people who have compassion and those who do not.
God calls us to be people of compassion; people who feel for our fellow human beings and want to help. God calls us to be people who show that His love is in us. We show that God's love is in us when we choose to act in a way that is helpful to others.
Precious Lord,
We lift up to you all those who are in need of your love. May they be filled with compassion for their fellow human beings. We also lift up to you, all who are already filled with compassion. May they continue to be Your light in the world and that their "good deeds shine for all to see, so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly Father". (Matt 5:16) Amen.
Denise Clark
Christ Servant Minister
