(by pastor Norman)

“The Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11; NKJV). God’s compassion for us is a tender, caring pity and sympathy for the misfortune of others and a strong desire to eliminate their suffering. In the Old Testament God’s people, Israel, strayed from His ways and fell into the hands of their enemies many times however, when they called out to God, He showed great compassion and rescued them (Isa 54:10, Zech 10:6, Ps 778:38-30). In His ministry on the earth, Jesus looked with compassion at the crowds of people lost and without a Shepherd (Matt 9:36). “He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” ((Matt 14:14; NKJV). In compassion, Jesus miraculously supplied bread and fish to hungry people (Mark 8:2-3). I love the account of the widow of Nain; her only son had died, and was to be buried. Jesus “had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep” (Luke 7:13; NKJV). He raised the son from the dead. Jesus illustrated how ordinary people are to show compassion in His account of a Samaritan tending to a stranger on the roadside who had been robbed and wounded (Luke 10:33). The greatest example of God’s compassion for us is the sacrifice of Jesus so we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him (John 3:16). How should we respond? The apostle Paul wrote, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 2:12; NIV).