A Key to be Compassionate

There are many verses in the Bible that speak to the fact that Christians ought to be compassionate people. 1 Peter 3:8 for instance says Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Colossians 3:12 reads Put on then, as God's choses ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.


Is compassion a gift? I am not really sure. It may not be a specific gift from the Holy Spirit, but there do seem to be people who are just naturally more compassionate than others.

I finished reading Hebrews this morning and landed on something that will help those of us who are not as compassionate as we ought to be. Hebrews 13:3 says Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

The Bible teaches elsewhere that Christians are in one unified body together with Jesus. He is our head, we make up the other parts. To be a more compassionate person, we are to think about people we know who are suffering in some way. Think deeply about their circumstances and pretend we are there with them, suffering all the same things they are suffering. This draws our minds away from self (for just a moment), onto another person's problems. Our emotions begin to be moved toward them and what they are feeling. Then we move this emotion back upon ourselves, picturing us there, suffering all the same things they are.

So the key to being a more compassionate person is to use your mind to think upon another person who is suffering. Then use your imagination to pretend you are right there with them, suffering right along side them all the same things. Who should you spend time thinking about this morning?