Epistles to the Cyberchurch - Su Min

From: Su Min
Subject: compassion

CYBERCHURCHIANS

Thursday 28th November 1996

Epistle to The CyberChurch

GREETINGS

To all the saints in cyberspace: greetings in the name of Jesus the Compassionate.

TEXT

Today we look at Matthew_15:32,_Mark_8:1-3,

CONTEXT

Jesus has come away from healing the demon possessed daughter of the faithful Gentile woman who was humble enough to beg for "the crumbs that fall from the master's table".
He moves along the coast of the sea of Galilee, and went up into the hills. Great crowds follow him, lame, crippled, dumb, and many others, seeking healing.
Jesus met them at their very point of need.

TODAY'S PASSAGE

Jesus called His disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people. They have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

COMPASSION

"I have compassion for these people."

Jesus is aware of the needs of His followers in the big crowd.
They have rushed to this far remote place to bring the sick for His healing. They have brought little provisions with them.
What has been brought has been consumed.
There are no shops around to buy further supply.
They are in dire need.
Jesus knows their needs.
Jesus not only knows their needs, but has compassion for them.

Compassion.
A recurring theme.
Why is it repeated in the bible? Why does the scripture tell us again and again about the gut-wrenching sympathy that Jesus felt for others, a deep emotion of pity and caring that our Lord translates into action?

Surely, beloved, compassion is the very soul of Jesus.
And as we seek to walk the way that Jesus walked, His compassion is ours to emulate.

The first use of the word "compassion" comes in Exodus_2:6. The Hebrew word in the text here is Strong's Concordance #2550, chamal, "khaw-mal": to commiserate, to spare, to have compassion, pity.
As Pharaoh's daughter finds baby Moses afloat in tiny papyrus boat, amongst the reeds, by the bank of the river Nile, she saw the child: and behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him. Her compassion, her deep seated sympathy was translated into action, for she brought him home and raised him as her own.

The next use of the word "compassion" is found in Deuteronomy_13:17.
We are told that if we discover worship of false gods we must destroy the things that have been irrevocably given to the false gods.....then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger He will show you mercy, have compassion on you...

A QUANTUM increase in the depth of gut-wrenching passion is involved.
A different Hebrew word is used in this text: Strong's concordance #7355. racham, "raw-kham": to fondle, to love compassionately, to find, obtain, show mercy, pity.
fondling is an intimate touching that expresses deep personal caring and love. It is with this intimacy that God expresses his sympathy on those of us who will turn away from false gods.

The psalms echo with the recognition of God's compassion: Psalms_78:38,_86:15,_111:4,_112:4,_145:8_A variant of the same Hebrew word is used in these texts: Strong's concordance #7349, rachuwm, "rakh-oom", filled with compassion. Our God is filled with this deep seated emotion and passion for us. Psalms_86:15_is representative You, O God are a compassionate and gracious God slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

In the gospel of Matthew we come across previous examples of the compassion of Jesus: Matthew_9:36,_14:14,_15:32,_18:27,_18:33,_20:34. The Greek word, Strong's concordance #4697, splagchinizomai, "splangkh-nid-zom-ahee" we have noted before, to have the spleen, the bowels, the intestines, the innards yearn, churn with inward affection and tender mercy, pity and sympathy.

COMPASSION LEADS TO ACTION

Jesus called His disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people. They have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

Jesus translated His pity for the hungry people into action. He provided food for them.

OUR COMPASSION

So much now has been said about compassion. We are to have compassion for the less fortunate. Love our neighbours as yourselves.

And what does the Lord require of you?

NATO

ACTION

Make no mistake: these "good deeds" can never buy us salvation. But rather, the one who has been saved will love God and love his fellow man enough to make compassion a way of life.

Who was neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?..
The one who had mercy on him (Luke_10:36,37)

Go and do likewise, beloved, go....

Su Min =======

a response from a subscriber which is self explanatory

Let me just type out an article that would answer the sisters question. I suggest you and everyone else get a copy of the book "The experience that counts" by Johnaton Edwards. It is a small paper back book that explains salvation to a "t". Here is a summary of Johnaton Edwards book:

" How, then, may we know if we have been born again? Scripture gives no assurance to people who have not made a personal profession of faith in Christ, but how may we determine if our faith is genuine? We cannot see the new birth directly, but we can observe its effects. First, do we have some sense of how wonderful Christ and the Gospel are? Second, is our faith in Christ merely fire insurance, or do we long to be made holy as Jesus is holy? Third, do our lives give evidence that we desire holiness, or is our god-talk merely a game? (Remember that according to Edwards and Scripture, our lives clearly indicate the prevailing affection of our hearts.) Since our conduct is the most visible aspect of our lives, Edwards insist that Christian practice is the chief evidence of regeneration, both to ourselves and to others.

One final word of encouragement. We have a tendency, in discussion about the marks of Regeneration, to raise the hurdles so high that only giants can clear them. I sometimes have the impression that the Puritans expected more from hypocrites than we do from our best deacons and elders. Remember that in the parables of talents, the slaves who thought his master hard found that indeed he was. God wants us to come to Him with the humility of a child who loves and trusts his father and yet fears to displease him. If we come with the terrified heart of a lazy slave, we can only expect to be crushed. So come in trust; come in hope; come in confidence; come in Christ:"

I hope this helps.
Brother Malc.

============== thanks Malc: Su min.

For any comments or enquiries please write to Dr. Lim Su Min


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